| Original caption: “Liberation of Europe — Allied Chiefs See the Beaches for Themselves. On Board The Minelayer HMS Apollo in Which General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, and Admiral Ramsay, Naval Commander, Cruised Off the Invasion Beaches for four and ahalf Hours, During Which They Conferred with General Montgomery and United States Navy Admiral Kirk, Who Came on Board to Meet Them. United Kingdom Royal Navy Admiral Sir Bertram H. Ramsay (January 20, 1883 – January 2, 1945), Commander of the Allied Naval Expeditionary Force; United States Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), Commander, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF); and United Kingdom Royal Army General Bernard L. Montgomery (November 17, 1887 – March 24, 1976), General Officer Commanding 21st Army Group; on board the fantail of HMS Apollo, a minesweeper detailed to take them on a tour of the invasion beaches. Ramsay and Eisenhower left SHAEF Southwick House, 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Portsmouth, boarded HMS Apollo there, and broke out the red 4-star flag of Eisenhower’s command. HMS Apollo 1st rendezvoused with USS Augusta (CA-31) in Berth L-12 off Omaha Beach. Augusta was the flagship of General Omar N. Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) Commander, 1st United States Army. Eisenhower pressed Bradley complete the linkup of the 2 American beaches, and a plan was made to bring sufficient supplies of ammunition for the United States Army 28th Infantry Division by towed barge from England. United States Navy Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk (October 30, 1888 – October 15, 1963), Commander UUnited States Naval Forces, France, was also present and discussed the invasion. Eisenhower met with Montgomery for discussions about the United Kingdom and Canadian landings at Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches. Montgomery then left HMS Apollo after conferencing and returned to his own command ashore. Duringt he conference, HMS Apollo answered a distress call from a barge that had broken tow. A landing craft was detailed to bring it back to England. As HMS Apollo withdrew, Eisenhower asked for a closer run past the British sector. Apollo hung up on a sandbar and damaged her propellers and drive shaft. Eisenhower and Ramsay transferred to HMS Undaunted and returned to Portsmouth at 2200 Hours. Eisenhower was deeply concerned about the commander of HMS Apollo being disciplined for an action that he himself had requested, but Ramsay assured him that while there would be an inquiry, the Captain, John A. Grindle (September 17, 1900 – February 20, 1991) would not be severely impeded in his career by the result. Apollo was temporarily repaired at Sheerness and sailed to Tyne for drydocking and permanent repairs. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0453.jpg |
| Image Size | 534 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2980 x 2293 |
| Photographer | C. H. Parnall |
| Photographer Title | Royal Navy Admiralty |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 7, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Arromanches |
| State or Province | Calvados |
| Country | France |
| Archive | Imperial War Museum |
| Record Number | A 23929 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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