HMS Largs day 1

HMS Largs was a former French ship captured by the Royal Navy five months after the Battle of France while docked at Gibraltar in November 1940 and commissioned as an "Ocean Boarding Vessel".

She subsequently became a Command Ship for almost every significant amphibious operation of World War II, including Operations Torch, Husky and Overlord. Royal Navy Operation Neptune 1944-06-06 Coast of Normandy She was built by France and named MV Charles Plumier in 1938. Following the creation of Vichy France and Free France, she was transferred in 1941 to the Royal Navy, instead of being handed over to the Free French Navy, and renamed HMS Largs. She took part in many operations including Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, and Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy.    

We moved out into the Solent on 25th May 1944 where we were visited and inspected by H.M. King George VI , Admirals Ramsey, Vian and Talbot. Whilst still at the quayside Mr. Churchill, Field Marshall Smuts and Aneurin Bevin(Foreign Secretary) also came on board. As Mr. Churchill disembarked he turned back towards the ship and doffed his hat in salute to the ships' crew before proceeding to his car. We then moved out into the Solent again on 5th June 1944 and in the early evening we watched an innumerable number of Assault ships of all types passing along the Solent on our Starboard side loaded with tanks, guns, Transport vehicles, troops etc and each ship was carrying a hoisted barrage balloon.

We weighed anchor at 21.30hrs on 5th June in company with LSI’s PRINCESS ASTRID and MAID OF ORLEANS with destroyer and MTB escorts to join the main flotilla at Piccadilly Circus - the designated collecting point for all ships in an area south of the Isle of Wight. Whilst we were proceeding to our designated spot in Picadilly Circus we were assembled in the Operations Room to be briefed on Operation NEPTUNE/OVERLORD which had already commenced.

We were given a detailed explanation by the Senior Naval, Army and Air Force Officers onboard of every timed action that was planned to take place between the hours from midnight to 7.35am on 6th June. H,M.S. LARGS was the Flagship of Force “S” controlling the landings on SWORD beach - the most Easterly of the five beach-heads. She was under the command of Rear Admiral Talbot. General Rennie, Commander of 3rd British Division, was also on board. As we sailed across the English Channel they plus Group Captain Taylor and Colonel Middleton(Officer Commanding 3rd Division Signals) gave us a detailed outline of operations to be carried out from 23.00hrs on 5th June to 07.25hrs(H-Hour) on 6th June - D-DAY!