Sorry if a bit late for this but I think we could look at old and new pics of the D Day landings all year, I might have to do different posts for each pic but bear with me. Any other people got any fascinating pics. This is Bernieres sur Mer and the first house to be liberated by the Canadians on D Day.
Visited Arromanches a couple of years ago and went along most of the British/Canadian sector. It was well worth the trip.
My father in law landed on Berniers beach on DDay and went right through to Germany and the end of the war. We have visited Normandy many times and he was awarded a medal by the French which we collected on his behalf in 2004 ( he passed away in 2001) when we attended a ceremony outside the house you featured above. We've had many happy but poignant trips there and the above picture is from a War Graveyard in Bazenville which is just inland from the beaches.
Yeah, I visited all around the area even went to some American cemeteries further down the coast, my dad was on the hms Glasgow at omaha beach. The only British vessel that was allocated with the yanks there, was very poignant
This picture is a drawing of his unit 79th Armoured division with his picure inset. His unit was known as Hobarts Funnies as their commanding officer Hobart came up with the idea of the Flail tank and other machines which incidentally the Yanks declined to take with them on Omaha Beach which didn't go well for them. Hope this is of interest.
Definitely of interest! I've read about Hobart's Funnies. I'm really interested in all of the innovations and inventions during that period. First time I've encountered someone in real life (if you can call this forum real life) who was involved with them though.
We took the family over two years ago to show our two grandkids where their great grandad was, we visited Omaha cemetery which has 9000 graves iirc and I know it's something they won't forget. visiting the smaller graveyards puts it into perspective equally as important as Omaha. One year we were there when George Bush was over think it was sixtieth anniversary and seeing the security arrangements was quite facinating. like I said earlier we've had many visits even when we lived in France for five years but much further South in the Charente. we often thought of living in Normandy but that ships sailed now due to our age and circumstance.
Amazing cemetery, I took photos of it but they're on tablet or else I would post them. Was a bit surreal looking out over omaha beach and knowing dad was actually there doing his bit. Very proud
Back in 1994 when I was still in the army, I went to Arromanches along with others from my unit to take part in the D-Day 50 year commemoration. My main job was to look after the veterans on the day. It was an absolute honour to do it. Another plus was meeting a young vision mixer from the BBC called Hillary. She was very attractive and if I wasn’t married I would’ve been in like Flynn with her.
every year i used to travel with my dad en ex para to the Netherlands. We used to do the jump together then meet the lady that hid him from the Germans, that's the main reason after my divorce i went to the Netherlands to live, knew the place well. God rest your soul you old git love you as much now as then and always will.Rest in peace all the brave lads who died in that campaign.
Those Mulberry Harbours were only supposed to last 18 months- 2 years and their still there today. A brainchild of Winston Churchill iirc.
Dont know if you are aware but Bovington Tank museum in Dorset have some of those "funnies". There is the flail, the DD, crocodile and a bridge layer (from memory)
