D-Day veteran recalls 'carnage' of Normandy landing

A 100-year-old D-Day veteran has recalled the "carnage" that confronted him on landing at Normandy but said he "doesn't remember feeling terrified".

Eric Suchland was among the soldiers who crossed the channel during Operation Overlord as part of the Allied invasion of France in 1944 - one of the most decisive moments of World War Two.

He admitted the approach was "hairy" as he arrived at Sword Beach but said there was only one thing one his mind.

"I don't remember having any real feelings, other than to get up the beach and beyond," the former soldier from Gorton, Manchester, said.

Born in Reddish, Mr Suchland volunteered for the Army on his 18th birthday and joined the Royal Corps of Signals.

He became a wireless operator whose job was to feedback intelligence on troop movements and casualties from the front line.

Speaking ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, he said he remembers hearing the order for the lorry he was travelling in to leave the landing craft.

“We drove off into six inches of water, no problem,” he told BBC Radio Manchester.

He was part of the second wave of Allied troops to arrive in Normandy at Sword Beach, one of five main landing areas chosen for the assault.

"I remember we were finding it impossible to land because of the carnage," he said.

"There were broken down vehicles, barbed wire, and other defences trying to stop our entry into France.

"I can remember the resistance put up by the aircraft, fighting a battle in the skies above. We had ships at sea firing shells into the beachhead to try and destroy any tanks.

"That was hairy, but I don't remember being terrified, I don't remember having any real feelings, other than to get up the beach and beyond."

However, the former soldier said one incident in the fighting that followed has stood out in his mind.

"I can remember sitting on the hillside and seeing a valley below filled with troops, almost like a division passing through," he said.

"They were being bombed by friendly fire", he said, adding "at least 30 bodies" were brought to a nearby ambulance hut, "all British soldiers".

"It was sad, it was something that shouldn’t have happened."

Mr Suchland later took part in the offensive to capture the French city of Caen, which was largely destroyed.

He said he remembered moving "field to field under constant gunfire from 88mm howitzers".

"We had to withstand sleeping in ditches day-by-day and digging trenches," he continued.

"To me, that was just as bad - if not worse - than D-Day itself. "

He later took part in the Battle of the Bulge, in six feet of snow in the Ardennes Forest, and was based near the German city of Hanover when the war ended in May 1945.

The following year, he was posted overseas and served at a training centre for British soldiers in the town of Mhow, central India.

After the war, Mr Suchland spent 45 years as a civil servant and recently moved to a care home in Halifax, West Yorkshire, to be close to his two daughters.

He had planned to travel back to Normandy for the 80th anniversary this year but his health meant he was unable to travel.

"D-Day was an important day for so many people and I'm thankful that I'm still here to talk about it", he said.

In 2019, the Royal British Legion took 255 veterans back to Normandy for the 75th anniversary commemorations.

This year, just 23 had planned to make the trip.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected]