Landing craft

[zilkens]

I have an uncle who was a (driver or helmsman ??) of a landing craft in the second world war.
Would he be
(a) classed as being in the navy ?
(b) have been enlisted into the job or have been on a warship prior to being transferred ?

[Christine in Herts]

Sounds like a naval activity. You wouldn't want someone with no sea knowledge doing something like that!

Christine

[Lin Fisher]

My Dad was on a Tank Landing Craft at D Day. He took the Canadian soldiers and tanks over to France and he was in the Navy.

Hope it is helpful

[zilkens]

My Dad was on a Tank Landing Craft at D Day. He took the Canadian soldiers and tanks over to France and he was in the Navy.

Hope it is helpful

Thanks Lin

[grumpy]

Navy. He would have been in the seamans branch and learned how to steer boats/ships etc before being given the helm of a landing craft

[Loopy Linda in La La Land]

My 89 year old Uncle did the same job.

He told us that when they went to drop off the soldiers they all had khaki uniforms to wear so that the snipers couldn't pick off the navy personnel so easily, which would have rendered the landing craft next to useless.

Interesting because I had never heard of that

Linda

[Guy]

If it was a landing craft rather than a DUKW he would be navy.
If he drove a DUKW he would be army or marines.
Cheers
Guy

[Loopy Linda in La La Land]

He was definitely in the Navy..I have photos of him in his uniform

Linda