Sgt. Jim Mapham
1944, 6 June
Injured and exhausted assault troops are helped ashore at Sword Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944

Black and white photograph
Imperial War Museum
IWM HU 87440
 
Curatorial description
In the foreground are Sappers Jimmy Leask (left, glancing up at the photographer) and Cyril Hawkins of No. 1 Platoon, 84 Field Company RE, whilst on the right, walking towards the camera past the medical orderlies of No. 8 Field Ambulance, is Sapper Fred Sadler of the same Platoon. All three members of 84 Fd Coy RE survived the war.
 
The British 2nd Army: support troops of the 3rd British Infantry Division assembling on 'Queen Red' Beach, SWORD Area, near la Breche, Hermanville-sur-Mer, at 8.30 am on 6 June while under intermittent enemy mortar and shell fire. In the foreground and on the right, identified by the white bands around their helmets, are sappers of 84 Field Company Royal Engineers, part of No.5 Beach Group. Behind them, heavily laden medical orderlies of 8 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (some of whom are assisting wounded men) prepare to move off the beach. In the background can be seen men of the 1st Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment and the Lord Lovat's No. 4 Army Commando landing from LCI(S)s (Landing Craft Infantry Small) of Naval Force S.
 
LL/87074