Yet more from Another Beach

James Arnold contacted The RAF at Omaha Beach website editor in August 2026 > “I am writing to you because I am the grandchild of LAC Ronald Douglas Jarvis (Official Service Number: 1619064).

“I recently came across online your article ‘A View from Another Beach: The Story of GCI 15053’ detailing the RAF mobile radar units assigned to Gold Beach. I have my grandfather’s official RAF service records, which confirm that as of March 1944, he was permanently stationed under 83 Group with 15053 Forward Direction Post. His records show his operational movement date as 4 June 1944 and log his arrival in continental Europe shortly thereafter.

“I read on your site that the family of his commanding officer, Squadron Leader Geoffrey Arthur Milbank, presented a commemorative booklet and a plaque to the Mayor of Crépon that includes an original wartime group photograph of the men of 15053 FDP. Given how small and close-knit this mobile unit was, I wondered if my grandfather is standing in that lineup. I am looking into his WWII campaign service and I would love to be able to look for any photos or records of him.”

We put James in touch with S/L Milbank’s surviving family.

“We also possess a diary-style letter he wrote to my grandmother while sealed on his landing craft in the Channel waiting out the weather delays.

“I’ve attached an extract from the letters. This is pretty much all we have, I used AI to decipher the handwritten notes which look to have decayed over the years.”