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Ken-Watts

A veteran interview with

Ken Watts

Ken served with The 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment and was part of the first wave onto Gold Beach .

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About Ken Watts

Ken Watts, a Landing Craft Assault (LCA) operator with The 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, was part of the first wave of brave soldiers to storm Gold Beach on D-Day. His vivid account offers a glimpse into the conditions and accommodation that he and his comrades lived in both leading up to and during the invasion.

On his crossing of the channel, the men witnessed what Ken later described in an article for the BBC, as the sea being ‘black with LCA’s’. Once in Normandy, Ken and his fellow soldiers advanced through the dense woodland before setting up camp for the night in a trench they had dug. When in the trench, the men were shelled. Ken luckily survived the mortar attack and was sent back to England to recover from his injuries. After time spent in Northern Ireland and Colchester, Ken rejoined his battalion making their way through occupied Europe up until armistice day.

After recalling his service during D-Day, Ken reflects on the loss of life experienced. He talks of the destruction and mutilation that made his D-Day experience so intense, having a lasting effect on his memories.

Credits


Reviewed by:
Anna Alcock
Transcribed by:
Fiona Marshall

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

If you would like a version of the transcript that has been transcribed manually by Fiona Marshall, please complete this form or email info@legasee.org.uk.

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Home | Veterans | Ken Watts

A veteran interview with

Ken Watts

Ken-Watts

Ken served with The 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment and was part of the first wave onto Gold Beach .

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Watts, Ken. A Veteran Interview with Ken Watts. Interview by Unknown. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ken-watts/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
APA Style:
Watts, K. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Ken Watts [Interview by Unknown]. Legasee. Retrieved April 23, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ken-watts/
Chicago Style:
Watts, Ken. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Ken Watts. Interview by Unknown. Legasee. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ken-watts/
Harvard Style:
Watts, K. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Ken Watts. [Interviewed by Unknown]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ken-watts/ (Accessed: 23 April 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Watts, K. A Veteran Interview with Ken Watts [Internet]. Interview by Unknown. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Apr 23]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ken-watts/
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