By Erin Woodward
It was New Year’s Eve. The beach remained void of activity, save for the occasional lights moving over the sand. Entrenched high above the chilled waters men warmed themselves with beer and spirits. Sounds of song and laughter helped to pass the time. Water lapped the sand in rhythmic patterns. Time clicked onward. 1943 quietly bowed to 1944, D-Day was six months away. Hidden below inked-stained waters off the English Channel loomed a group of five men aboard a midget sub.
High tide provided the needed cover. Sparsely equipped, the men carried only the essentials: pistols, knives, compass, watch, flashlight, and a dozen long tubes. These tubes would carry sand. It was this sand that would determine the landing fate of the Allied forces. Two British commandos, Major Logan Scott-Bowden and Sgt. Bruce Ogden-Smith were tasked with the near impossible.
The French costal village of Luc-sur-Mer on the beach beckoned the quiet arrival of these young British commandos. Today we know of village by a different name, Sword Beach. A rising tide eased the men’s long swim. Making friends with the sand, they slogged belly-down, coarse grit coating their uniforms. Weary not to leave any traces of their arrival, Bowden and Smith stopped short of the high-water line. Night provided a blanket of comfort, all traces of their existence soon to disappear from the incoming surf. The two men reached their prize. Pulling out the tubes Bowden and Smith worked to gather samples of sand. Diligence was key. The strength of the sand played a major factor in determining landing sites for June 6th. The engineers and top Allied brass needed to know if their heavy equipment (i.e., 30-ton American Shermans) would get stuck, sink, and in turn become shooting practice for eager Germans. The years of training, of being in a constant state of readiness depended in part to the findings of these samples. They worked silently. Location samples marked and noted. Strong waters welcomed Bowden and Smith—the job not yet complete.
Strong breakers repeatedly pushed the men back. Weighted down, Bowden and Smith forged ahead. Relentless waves crashed over them. Joyous songs from Nazi soldiers faded. The force of the waves separated the duo. Working to link up again, the men undoubtedly smiled, and noticing the time, would have wished each other a happy new year. Lt. Commander Nigel Willmott welcomed his chaps back aboard the X-25 class midget sub. England longed for good news.
British and American leadership asked more of the men. Duty called. Four more times the stout-hearted men ventured under chilled English waters. Juno, Gold, Utah, and Omaha beaches were to be sampled as well. Omaha proved the most challenging. Over a period of four days the men, using the cover of night ventured forth pulling samples. The high bluffs of Omaha Beach not only caused Bowden and Smith trouble, but also would be a contributing factor to the death of many Americans.
The actions of two British commandos six months prior, working in the quiet of night helped pave the way for the countless heroes that were to surge forward on June 6, 1944. Major Logan Scott-Bowden was awarded a Military Cross and a Distinguished Service Order for his actions. Sgt. Bruce Ogden-Smith was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Death screamed down on the Allies. Hot lead meeting warm flesh and bone. Blood-hued water slicked over the rolling waves. Clumps of red sand clustered about. Europe had known war since September of 1939. Hope and freedom now pushed forth on its shores by the strength of a willing generation.
