Name/Title
Davies Steering logEntry/Object ID
2025.1032.1Description
Steering Aft log owned and written by William A. Davies, with contributions from M.J. Barrel (QM3c), M.S. Emslie (QM3c), along with three people titled “Bonds Kids” G.T. Capps (EM2c), D.R. Barnfather (EM2c), and W.B. Cook (MM2c). Log contains three distinct styles of handwriting, belonging to the Quartermasters, and is sourced from their firsthand accounts and reports from the Chaplain’s announcements over the ship P.A. system. Log covers events from June 6, 1944, to June 25, 1944.
“EVENTS OBSERVED BY TEXAS ON D-DAY AND THE PERIOD OF DAYS FOLLOWING” written above first entry for June 6, 1944.
Back half of the book is blank, and a couple pages in the back of the book have been torn out.
Log donated by the Davies Family.Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944.
Battleship Texas began preparations for the Battle of Cherbourg on June 18, 1944. She departed Plymouth for Normandy, supported with artillery fire, and returned to England on June 25, 1944. She was hit three times and finished repairs for battle damage on July 3, 1944.
William A. Davies was a QM2c on Battleship Texas from June 30, 1943, to July 16, 1944. During Operation “Overlord,” Davies, along with M.J. Barrel and M.S. Emslie, both QM3c, kept a log of ship steering from June 6 to June 25, 1944.Collection
Collection (William A. Davies), Historical CollectionsLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
LogNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsBook Details
Date Published
Jun 6, 1944 - Jun 25, 1944General Notes
Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Significant discrepancies between the Davies logbook and official Deck Logs for June of 1944 exceeding 10 minutes and excluding omissions:
June 6
Davies logged main battery firing at 1533, deck log recorded 1400.
Davies logged secondary battery firing at 1830, deck log recorded 1815.
Davies logged AA fire of fleet at 2340, deck log recorded 2237.
June 7
Davies logged GLASGOW bombardment beginning at 0740, deck log recorded 0750.
Davies logged new target assigned at 1800, deck log recorded 1815.
June 8
Davies logged AA opening at 0040, deck log recorded 0140.
Davies logged secondary battery commenced firing at 1000, deck log recorded firing ceased 1000.
June 9
Davies logged AA opening at 0020, deck log recorded 0005.
Davies logged Rear Admiral Bryant departure to ARKANSAS at 0830, deck log recorded 0850.
June 12
Davies logged air defense called at 1925, deck log recorded 1913.
June 13
Davies logged condition set “IE” at 2230, deck log recorded at 2300.
June 14
Davies logged bomb fell 500 yards from TEXAS at 2230 directed at the ship, deck log recorded bomb fell 1000 yards away at 2325 targeting MONTCALM.
June 15
Davies logged ship underway at 0500, deck log recorded 0523.
Davies logged main battery firing at 0645, deck log recorded 0630.
Davies logged pilot ROBINSON returned at 1700, deck log recorded 1827.
June 18
Davies logged O’BRIEN reported bomb at 0030, deck log recorded 0100.
Davies logged underway to PLYMOUTH at 0700, deck log recorded 0745.
Davies logged at anchor at 2015, deck log recorded 2043.
June 20
Davies logged at anchor in PORTLAND at 1600, deck log recorded at anchored in PLYMOUTH at 1632.
June 25
Davies logged underway at 0330, deck log recorded 0340.
