Ernest Thomas

At the end of May 1944 he was asked if he would go on a secret mission. He was told he would be given a short course in parachuting and drop behind enemy lines. He volunteered immediately. Around 2 Jun 1944 he was collected with a number of other men from the surrounding area. At the end of their journey , they found themselves on the Isle of Wight. He was on patrol there on the morning of 6 June to see the ships sail for Normandy and the invasion of Europe. Later he was told their original target had been destroyed by air attack which is why they had not been sent.

There are a number of similar accounts of Auxiliers being asked to volunteer to be parachuted this way. It seems likely messages about the recruitment to the SAS in January 1944 became confused with the recruitment for the Isle of Wight operation.