The 803 Royal Marine Flotilla was formed in 1943. The crews were Marines that had been re-mustered from other units, mostly the RNASDF - Royal Naval Air Service Defence Force - a unit similar to the RAF Regiment but defending Naval Airfields etc.

803 were trained in North Wales, Hayling Island and Dartmouth. They then moved to HMS Lizard in Brighton and HMS Newt in Newhaven. As D Day approached so we were moved to Hayling Island, from where we sailed on June 5th 1944 for Sword Beach, Normandy.

 
© Peter Frampton 2001
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