Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Gerald Fry served as a tank Commander in the Royal Scots Greys, Royal Armoured Corps (RAC).

To utilize their nautical training to uncover details of an event in Zionist history, graduates of the Mevo’ot Yam מבואות ים maritime school, near Michmoret מכמורת, sailed for Syrna Σύρνα, to locate the wreck of Rafiah רפיח.
Shalom Gutman, one of the participants, cites: “We looked for a way to connect 100 years of Zionism with the four years of nautical education. We hope to bring back some historical artifacts. We will erect a monument there for the victims of the sinking.”
Shlomo Reichman worked with the students throughout the year, and accompanied them on the expedition, hoping to "learn what happened there, who caught him and saved him, and how he got to Israel."

At dusk, the Tank Landing Craft that carried Gerald Fry and his crew, landed on Sword Beach, Oboe Sector, opposite to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer.
Gerald Fry served as a tank radio operator until VE Day; his tank Commander was John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, father of Lady Di.
It was the radio operator's job to locate his regiment, which was several miles west of his location, and they joined up the next morning.