The Search - A book written by John Henry Philips about the true story of a D-Day survivor, my until Patrick

This story is about an unlikely friendship and a lost shipwreck off Normandy.  My Uncle was one of 16 survivors when his landing craft hit a mine on D-day.

When archaeologist John Henry Phillips volunteered with a charity that took D-day Veterans back to Normandy, due to an administration error he found himself without a hotel room and reliant on the generosity of one of the veterans who had a spare bed. That veteran was Patrick Thomas and it was an encounter that would change both their lives forever. 

Patrick's landing craft, LCH 185 had led the first wave into Sword beach on D-Day and stayed off Normandy util 25th June when an acoustic mine sent it to the seabed along with most of the crew.  His story transfixed John and the resulting search for the shipwreck was to consume him. 

Jumping back and forwards in time, between vivid descriptions of the final days on board LCH 185 and John's thrilling search to find the shipwreck. The search is an emotional story of a devastating time in history, an unlikely, life-changing  friendship and a quest to honour a wartime home and family lost over seventy years ago.

Dan Snow historian has taken an interest in this story and wanted to meet Patrick and John. This took place this week and there should be an article related to this in the Times soon. later, Dan will publish the meeting with John and Patrick on his Podcast "History Hit"