HISTORICAL CONTEXT

He was a crew member on LCA(HR) 1106 which was assigned to support the landing of men and supplies on Gold Beach on D-Day.

The Landing Craft, Assault (Hedgerow) or LCA(HR) was a small vessel that did not carry troops. It was fitted with 24 spigot mortars.
Shortly before the first assault troops landed, these were fired to try to destroy mines and cut barbed wire in the beach area.

His craft was assigned to support landing operations on Gold Beach on D-Day as part of Operation Neptune. It was accidentally rammed by a Landing Craft Tank (LCT) close to the shore and it capsized.

He drowned despite the water being very shallow as he wasn't able to get out of the craft.