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A veteran interview with

Charles Eagles

Charles Eagles was in ‘S’ Company of the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and landed at Gold Beach. His specialism was mine clearance,

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About Charles Eagles

Charles Eagles joined the Army at 18, initially completing commando training before being posted to 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He had boxed before joining up and continued to train in the army, which is how he caught the eye of an officer who was forming S Company, charged with mine clearance. His battalion landed in the second wave at 9.30 on Gold Beach, but he lost all his gear when he was dropped in deep water and had to drop it to stay afloat.

In a detailed and enthralling account, Charles’s recalls the camaraderie, the tough training and the nervous excitement prior to D-Day. He describes in detail being under fire and the slow pace of advance as they cleared mines with bayonets because the ground favoured the defenders. He shows the humanity of war in describing his capture and interaction with some Germans, and how the tables turned when they realised they were surrounded and asked him to negotiate their surrender. Later, he describes how he cleared a mine under an officer’s foot, and how later he was wounded when his own vehicle hit a mine.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Andy Voase

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | Charles Eagles

A veteran interview with

Charles Eagles

CharlesEagles-e1588365027741

Charles Eagles was in ‘S’ Company of the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and landed at Gold Beach. His specialism was mine clearance,

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Eagles, Charles. A Veteran Interview with Charles Eagles. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-eagles/. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
APA Style:
Eagles, C. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Charles Eagles [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-eagles/
Chicago Style:
Eagles, Charles. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Charles Eagles. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-eagles/
Harvard Style:
Eagles, C. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Charles Eagles. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-eagles/ (Accessed: 6 June 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Eagles, C. A Veteran Interview with Charles Eagles [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Jun 6]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-eagles/
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