Another incident with a happier outcome occurred one or two days after D-day when LCI's 311 and 288 were secured bow to stern alongside an LST from which they were embarking troops. The embarkation was going well in spite of the roughish weather when 'Sergeant fell between the trooper and 311 which was the inside LCI. The Commanding Officer of 311, followed by his First Lieutenant, immediately went over the side between the ships while 288 used her engines to try and hold 311 away from the ship, but both tide and wind were forcing the LCIs against the trooper and the position of the men in the water was one of the greatest peril. Fortunately, all three were brought back aboard safely. The Sergeant undoubtedly owed his life to his rescuers; he would have stood small chance of saving himself burdened down as he was with all his equipment,

The craft casualties from the storm, during the build up, and on the assault reduced the capacity. of the Canadian LCI Flotillas during June and July by approximately 15% to 18%. LCI's 249 and 115 were the worst damaged and took nearly two months to repair Other major repair jobs were undertaken at Portsmouth for LCIs 252 (one month) and 121 (6 weeks). Minor repairs were undertaken at Southampton for LCI's 255, 117, 270 and 125, and other craft were patched up at yards in the vicinity of the Solent wherever they could be fitted in.

Although the Canadian LCI's, like all the others taking part in the invasion, relied on the Royal Navy for their docking facilities, it would have been impossible to have kept the LCI's operational had it not been for the excellent work of the Royal Canadian Navy maintenance parties attached to each flotilla.

On D-day there were about fifty personnel, all Canadian in three parties. Of these fifty about ten were officers and forty ratings. The 260 Flotilla had the largest party of four officers and twenty-six ratings and the other two flotillas shared the remainder.

The LCI maintenance parties had achieved wonders of speed and resourceful ingenuity in having all their craft ready by D-day. After D-day the parties split up, the 262nd Flotilla party going to the assault area to work on landing craft damaged on the far shore. They worked from a Landing Ship Equipment and slept in H.M.S. "HAWKINS". The other two Canadian Flotilla parties remained at Fort Gilkicker, the LCI and LCT collecting area west of Portsmouth, where they serviced craft in need of repairs after returning from the beach head.