In the ship-to-shore supplement (Sept) the Mulberry Harbour picture shows HMS Adventure, which had been converted from a mine-laying cruiser to a landing craft repair ship.

After some days off the beach Adventure moved to the entrance of the harbour as guard ship. My part as a Royal Marine was to man a machine gun in the open gun control position up the mast.

My interest in the supplement was the part now played by helicopters as my son son, Cdr Kev Mathieson, has flown them since about 1982, including as a member of the Sharks Helicopter Display Team and CO 824 Squadron.
My own time in the Royal Marines was mostly on HMS Adventure from 1942 until 1945.

My son has been appointed Staff Aviation Officer this week.