Daughter of Cambridge D-Day veteran travels to France for commemorations

The daughter of a Cambridge D-Day veteran, who died several years ago, has travelled to Normandy for the 75th anniversary commemorations

Lieutenant (later Major) Waf Maynard, who was known as Austin, signed up for the Royal Hampshire Regiment before the war.

He joined the preparations for the invasion of Europe and by 1943, he was appointed Aide de Camp to Major General Ramsden, who was in charge of the 3rd Division.

His daughter, Katie Maynard, explains: “Training took place in Scotland – based at Inverness Castle, the troops practised landings from ships and landing craft along the coast nearby.

“Shortly before D-Day the high command was changed and when Montgomery was appointed, Major General Rennie replaced Ramsden. My father remained with the 3rd Division as liaison officer to the headquarters.

“For the crossing my father went over on HMS Largs, the command ship. He wrote ‘There was a rough sea and you could see grey misty ships on all sides. We all seemed to be moving very slowly. Some of the smaller landing craft were pitching and tossing’.”

Landing on Sword beach around mid-morning on June 6, Lieutenant Maynard wrote: “Every so often the battleships and cruisers let off their heavy guns and the noise of an express train went over our heads....As we went over the side a Naval officer handed each of us officers a bottle of gin. We sped quickly to the beach. I landed on Sword beach by jumping ashore and not even getting my feet wet! Mortar shells were still landing on the beach and I saw my first dead soldier.

“We dashed across the beach which was still being shelled by Germans. Then it was a question of following white tape. The white tape marked paths through the minefields which had been laid by the Germans. These paths had been cleared by the Royal Engineers.”

Somehow through the constant barrage he arrived at the meeting point in Hermanville a small village just south of Sword beach.

Lieutenant Maynard remained based in Hermanville for six weeks as the troops endured heavy opposition.

In the following months he moved through Normandy, Paris, Brussels, Holland and into Germany. He was invalided back to England in March 1945.

Katie added: “I have been to several of the commemorative events in Normandy but this year, the 75th anniversary, will be very special. It is a time to remember the many soldiers and their families affected by the events as well as the civilians who endured the heavy fighting, devastation and horrors of death. My father was one of many - but for all those who took part they each have a story and were all involved in momentous events. Like many of the veterans my father did not dwell on the fear or the terrifying things they went through. This week will be an opportunity to remember those in Normandy in 1944 and all those affected by what happened then. They were ordinary human beings but history was changed in June 1944 and the events continue to impact us today.”

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