Cazaly, Musa Charles Elliott, Lieutenant-Commander, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 1903-1985.

The papers contain a large number of charts, maps, reconnaissance photographs and intelligence reports, all of which are marked "Secret" or "Top Secret" . These relate mainly to the D-Day landings, showing the various landing zones, enemy positions, etc, but there are also some charts showing the coastline of Sicily prior to invasion. Also present in the collection is an iluminating after-action report by Lt-Commander Cazaly to his C.O., explaining how his flotilla fared during the D-Day landings.

Administrative / biographical background
Lieutenant-Commander Cazaly was the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) officer commanding, 11th LCT Flotilla during the latter half of the Second World War, taking part in Operation "Husky" (the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943) and then Operation "Neptune" (the naval element of the D-Day landings in 1944). On D-Day, Cazaly was responsible for landing Duplex-Drive Sherman tanks of the Canadian 10th Armoured Regiment (Fort Garry Horse) on to Nan Sector of Juno beach, in order to give support to the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Like other LCT commanders on D-Day, Cazaly took the decision that due to the rough seas, he would take the tanks right onto the beach, as opposed to letting them off of the landing craft out from the beach and letting them swim in, as was the plan.

Record Details

Item reference: CAZ; XX(116419.1) MS1986/099 GB 0064
Catalogue Section: Personal collections
Level: COLLECTION
Extent: 3 boxes
Date made: 1942-1944
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London