Watching the pictures from Normandy on Sky News. We as a whole owe everyone involved in this day a great debt, one that we can never repay in full. From the meticulous planning but most of all, all those allied servicemen who sailed over to Normandy not knowing if they would ever see home again. We should never forget what they did and it should always be taught in schools so that future generations know exactly what we owe those brave men and women.
My grandad was in The Durham Light Infantry but wasnt involved in D-Day he was in Burma and was awarded the Burma Star. He was the most kindest, gentle and respectful man I ever had the pleasure to meet and was proud to call him my Grandad. I can never imagine my Grandad hurting a soul and have thought many times about it, he never had a bad word to say about anyone but he detested the Japanese, he never went into detail but he said they were the cruellest people to walk the earth. He seen some unimaginable things but never shared them, he insisted it was things that needed to stay in the past. When we were little he used to show us his scars on the backs of his legs when we used to ask what they were off he would say running away from the Japs It might have been true because when it came to the war he was a closed book, I loved nothing better than sitting with my Grandad and listening to his stories of working down the Pit and playing football, I think of him a lot on days like this, my Grandad the war hero was my hero, I loved him.
We have bird feeders in the front window where the squirrels struggle to get to. Yesterday a bird of prey attacked them and put a window through. That's the bad news, the good news is that the falcon shook its head and flew off. The other good news is that the glazier just gave me a real laugh. His dad landed on one of the beaches, in Normandy, with a dozen mates from a Highland regiment. He said he wasn't a hero and I thought he was just being modest. They were totally pinned down by a machine gun nest and surrounded by the bodies of those who'd previously tried to get off that part of the beach. The sergeant shouted 'Fix bayonets we're going to attack that nest.' To a man they replied 'F*ck off, we're staying here'
This is a canny article about the D-day commemorations and talks about the Resistance as well. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7228rq2nelo
This supports what I read years ago about morale being at zero level amongst many French army units due to poor pay and equipment. The senior officers were too occupied in advancing their own careers to care for the common soldiery.
I read an account by a British spy-catcher. A German spy had been landed on our south coast by submarine. He was spotted at daybreak by a home guard unit walking from the direction of the sea. He was stopped and immediately aroused suspicion because he still had sand on his shoes. When he was searched his coat still had the German makers label attached to it. Elementary mistakes like this one led to the arrest of many would-be spies, which is astounding considering the reputation for thoroughness attributed to the Germans. They either had no idea of the spy mania abroad in Britain at the time, or were very naive to believe that a single man carrying a small suitcase emerging from a beach with wet shoes would not attract attention.
My grandad wasnt in the D - Day landings but was there a few days after as a medic - he unfortunately passed away a few years ago but even on his deathbed he wouldnt talk about what he witnessed - I did ask him just before he died but he just patted me on the back and said "that was from a lifetime ago and I dont want to bring it up again". I kind of wish he could have talked about it with us even so we could pass this onto our kids so that what his generation did can never be forgotten. He never even applied for his medals - he just thought it was what anyone would have done. He was my hero. RIP Harry Lund
…and there are those that claim it is in the past and should be forgotten! If I had my way, it would be part of the school curriculem. Even if I can’t spell it!
Excellent read. I've read many books on this subject and they're all absolutely terrifying. As one example were the groups who'd take downed RAF personnel, and get them over the Pyrenees, to Spain and then Gibraltar. They helped hundreds of pilots, etc, despite knowing that capture would mean torture, to betray their friends, then death. For every one RAF airman they saved they'd lose two of their own ... ... and they knew that, but people couldn't win the war, pilots could.
Rufec not far from where we lived in France was a hot spot for airmen getting away via Spain. Can't remember her name but a local Countess known as the Red Countess was the organiser of that group. She was arrested several times by the Gestapo but released using her title to bluff her way out of trouble. There's so many stories of heroic French civilians but sadly there was as many who would betray them.
Edit. Iirc the 2 surviving members of Cockleshell Hero's escaped after their daring raid on Bordeaux using the Rufec route.
That rings a bell mate. I reckon she might've been English and had a crazy life, especially in wartime ... ... I'll have a look through my books tomorrow
If any of you have the time and are interested here's a link to the first episode of We Have Ways of Making You Talk, D-day specials. They're about an hour long each and go in depth from the German side before the landings, right through to the end of the Normandy campaign. https://open.spotify.com/episode/27I4N3jCn1S0H8SatdGCQn?si=EuV1VvhEQO-ei75uyTjuYA
Very glad to see this thread. Great posts. It puts the search for a new manager into some kind of perspective.
Days like today can’t be forgotten, sadly there are many people who think it should be allowed to fade away in the past. At work today I took myself away and observed the minutes silence, I asked my daughter if her school observed it and she said it wasn’t even mentioned!! I find that sad, I sat with her and told her the tales I shared with you lot earlier about my Grandad and she said Dad that’s brilliant it makes me want to cry in a good way. So in my own little way I’ve kept the memories of those brave men and women alive and as long as I’m alive I will continue to do that. The sacrifices simply can’t be forgotten, it should be part of our children’s education
Another great post ... ... children need to know that working towards a common good is better than being selfish and thinking only of yourself.
Dear Mr Sunak, thank you for your enquiry today ... please log in to view this image "The Prime Minister missed the gathering of world leaders for the 80th anniversary of the landings on Omaha Beach on Thursday afternoon, sending Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, and Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, in his place. On Thursday morning, he addressed an audience at the UK’s national commemoration event in Normandy, telling veterans: “We owe you everything.”" Yes, everything except your precious time
