As the D-Day anniversary approaches-what are you doing to remember those who fell?

Oh Peter stop it!

Just because people don’t mark an occasion in a highly visible manner doesn’t mean that they have forgotten. We’ve had this discussion before. People remember in their own particular and often private ways, and not just on the Anniversary. Equally, for those who do remember or think of the events of 65 or 70 years ago, there are others who have spent a lifetime trying to forget. I suspect you’re not the only person in Braintree to have thought about the events of the 6th of June 1944, even if you think you are.

Regards,

kev35

I walked up to our local war memorial yesterday, which is situated in a beautiful park, but apart from my little plaque and poppy that I put on there on Saturday, there was nothing. I was quite surprised that in this town of 35,000 souls, that no-one, particularly our strong local British Legion, had bothered to remember the day, they were obviously too tied up with the local carnival. I’m sure that several locals were killed at D-Day including one of the local gentry at Spains Hall, an officer who died at Caen, his descendants still live at Spains, pity they couldn’t be bothered to remember his sacrifice, sad isn’t it.

Well, I visited the Canadian Cemetery between Calais and Boulogne, a new one to me.

‘Home’ to 594 Canadians, 105 Brits, 5 Australians, 6 Czech, 19 Poles and 2 unknowns.

603 / 117 / 4 (Army/RAF/navy)

A mixture of Battle of France and liberations casualties, including at least one 6th June, though the others were mostly Sept 1944.

As moving as ever

Moggy

just to let you all know, NEAMS D Day event went well, what really suprised me was the normandy veteran who turned up, stayed all day, then when the day was over, went to get a bus home to gateshead, some of the re-enactors were able to sort out a lift home for him though

i managed to meet and shake hands with this gentleman and i got quite emotional, this was after our 2 minutes silence which some family almost ruined by talking and as i walked over to him, he saluted me then extended his hand to mine, i honestly didnt know how to feel if im honest, i asked him how the day went for him and he said (obviously) that it was very emotional then joked that the only let down was that he couldnt wear his big medals because they were to heavy

sadly i didnt get this gentlemans name, hopefully someone did

i will create a topic in the photographic thread with the pics i got for you all

Scott

I’ve briefly been to the cenotaph in London yesterday.

…and I looked around at the scum walking the streets, the graffiti near the centotaph, the general knife crime on the streets. I thought, “You died to give this lot freedom?”

Silence in order to respect those to fight for our country and give us what we have today.

Plus reading the poem I know best – “Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori”

I’ve got nothing official planned. But for me, and I’ve said this before, it’s tonight and tomorrow night I think about it most. Tonight I’ll be thinking about the men of Bomber Command, who, when called to briefing, are told that this is the night. For many, a short trip, a so called milk run. Some 1,211 sorties were flown and at least 5,000 tons of bombs were dropped. The tasks were many and varied:Coastal batteries and defensive positions, intruder patrols, Jamming of the night fighter frequencies and other RCM duties. 34 Mosquitoes bombed Osnabruck. This was the highest tonnage of bombs delivered in a single night so far. 36 Halifaxes and Stirlings were engaged in the dropping of explosive devices and dummy parachutists away from the invasion area. 16 Lancasters of 617 and 6 Stirlings of 218 Squadrons were laying a constantly moving screen of window across the Channel to simulate a large, slow moving convoy. In total, twelve aircraft engaged in the operations described above were lost. 61 of those on board were killed, seven were injured, two evaded and two were captured.

The Airborne element also suffered losses. In the course of delivering the British Airborne Forces, it should be noted that 5 Albermarles, 7 Stirlings, 8 Dakotas, 2 Halifaxes, 20 Horsa’s and 1 Hamilcar were lost. Of those aboard, some 199 perished, both RAF aircrew, men of the Glider Pilot Regiment and men from various units of the Airborne Forces.

I also think of an individual. Lieutenant Herbert Denham Brotheridge was one of the coup de main party at Pegasus Bridge. He was 29 years of age and, like myself, was a Black Country lad. From all that I have read of this man, he was universally liked by his fellow Officers and the men under his command. A footballer of some prowess he was known as Den or Denny and often joined in impromptu football games. Leading his men into action he was shot through the neck and died at the side of the bridge. If I remember correctly, it was likely he was the first British soldier to be killed in action on D-Day.

Some will note that I have not acknowledged the American involvement so far. The reason for this is the simple fact that I do not have the knowledge to write in detail of their involvement. For that, I would refer you to Stephen Ambrose who, in numerous books, has bought their exploits to the forefront of our consciousness. Many men of many different Nationalities had died before anyone set foot on those beaches, but their story is for another time.

Regards,

kev35

I’m working 🙁 🙁 🙁

….all day too 🙁 🙁 🙁

LOL.

I’ll be doing my personal 2 minute silence bit.

I’d like to pretend that my cross-channel foray on this 6th June is commemorative.

It isn’t. We’ve just run out of white wine.

I can’t even say that I can lean of the rail watching the dawn come up over the French coast on the actual morning. The tunnel doesn’t have windows.

But I’ll find a cemetery, wander past a few graves and give all those brave men a thought.

Set the video to record ‘Overlord’ (If you haven’t seen it, it’s a stunner)

And once home I’ll watch again the excellent ‘Foreign Field’ and again try and fight back the tear that the manipulative ending always manage to wring out of me.

Moggy

My daughter is off to France on Monday. Visiting the D-Day landing beaches also Longues Sur Mer to visit the German battery, Pegasus Bridge memorial museum also stopping at a nearby English cemetery of the First and Second World Wars. 🙂