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This time all those years ago my grandad had just gone ashore in the second wave on Sword beach! Just take a moment and reflect on what we owe those men and women!
Definitely. Astonishing people and an unsurpassed military achievement.
Salute to your grandad.
My late father in law was a lieutenant on an ML leading the landing craft into Gold beach that day. I have what is left of the white ensign that was flown from his boat. You can still smell the smoke and cordite on it. Touching history.
While this week saw the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo, but next week sees the 85th anniversary of Operation Cycle and then subsequently Operation Aerial.
Often over-shadowed by Operation Dynamo, but both quite amazing stories.
I'm fascinated by D-Day and have been fortunate enough to meet five D-Day veterans over the past year and a bit.
One who landed by glider near Pegasus Bridge in the evening. One who escorted US Rangers onto Omaha Beach. One who was a gunner on a Destroyer off of Gold Beach. One who landed on Gold Beach. One who landed on Omaha Beach alongside the Americans.
I have family who spent 5 years living under Nazi occupation, I cant begin to imagine thier existence through that time
I can only imagine their existence was b awful. Not just the fact that the enemy ransacked the countries they invaded, carted off people as slaves, starved the populations, shot anyone they didn’t like very much, murdered anyone they viewed as vermin, it’s the living day to day.
I can’t imagine what it must have been like not knowing what tomorrow would bring, but knowing in all likelihood nothing good.
My father was overseas serving with the British Army in India and in the Middle East. He knew nothing of D-Day or inded VE Day until a week or more after it happened. My mother was working for the Civil Service but had been evacuated from London to Blackpool for the duration of the hostilities. I guess they weren't the D-day heroes who we rightly remember today, but like most of their generation, they played a part and paid a price.
My father was overseas serving with the British Army in India and in the Middle East. He knew nothing of D-Day or inded VE Day until a week or more after it happened. My mother was working for the Civil Service but had been evacuated from London to Blackpool for the duration of the hostilities. I guess they weren't the D-day heroes who we rightly remember today, but like most of their generation, they played a part and paid a price.
They all played their part. My mum was in the ATS. One grandfather was a Special Constable in Ipswich, the other on a recovery crew in Yarmouth. Everybody was doing something. Total war.
It’s interesting that people served in so many different places doing all sorts of stuff throughout the world, really.
I can only imagine their existence was b awful. Not just the fact that the enemy ransacked the countries they invaded, carted off people as slaves, starved the populations, shot anyone they didn’t like very much, murdered anyone they viewed as vermin, it’s the living day to day.
I can’t imagine what it must have been like not knowing what tomorrow would bring, but knowing in all likelihood nothing good.
My father was overseas serving with the British Army in India and in the Middle East. He knew nothing of D-Day or inded VE Day until a week or more after it happened. My mother was working for the Civil Service but had been evacuated from London to Blackpool for the duration of the hostilities. I guess they weren't the D-day heroes who we rightly remember today, but like most of their generation, they played a part and paid a price.
Be proud of them they really were ‘all in it together’👍
I have family who spent 5 years living under Nazi occupation, I cant begin to imagine thier existence through that time
I was speaking to someone on the train to the Newcastle game who had just come back from the Czech Republic.
Her dad had been stuck in northern France after Dunkirk and became a POW.
It was a really grim existence and he was marched all over the place, but he eventually managed to escape and was hidden (along with a few others) for the rest of the war by people in Czechoslovakia, at great personal risk to them.
The hut he was hidden in is still there, and in the same family, and she met up with, and was given hospitality by, the then owner's grandson. A women from the village who was about 8 at the time remembered those who were hidden.
my father was in north africa at the time even thou the campaign was over he had spent 3 years there. his younger brother was at d day and was injured on the first day and had to be sent back to the uk
forensic experts say footers and spruces fingerprints were not found at the scene after the weekends rows
Turning up in your thousands when large gatherings were expressly forbidden, draping coffins in the union flag, displaying red white and blue generally ...
Passive resistance but more than just "sticking your fingers up" to a heavily armed, volatile and aggressive occupier. For me that sort of thing takes courage, particularly when one considers that liberation would only come with an Allied victory (and even then the Nazis' propensity for "retribution" would have been a constant worry until arms were finally laid down).
Can't imagine what it would have been like to live under occupation like that.
I've mentioned it before on here before but my uncle was in one of the strange tanks (known as Funnies) that paved the way for the success of the D-day landings.
I've mentioned it before on here before but my uncle was in one of the strange tanks (known as Funnies) that paved the way for the success of the D-day landings.
I’ve just read a book about the Crocodiles (flamethrower tank). Truly wicked bits of kit and if you were caught by the Germans if your tank was damaged, you’d be shot on sight.
Percy Hobart was an incredible inventor/lateral thinker and these adaptations really did contribute.
I’ve just read a book about the Crocodiles (flamethrower tank). Truly wicked bits of kit and if you were caught by the Germans if your tank was damaged, you’d be shot on sight.
Percy Hobart was an incredible inventor/lateral thinker and these adaptations really did contribute.
He was in the Royal Engineers, so assume that it was an AVRE, especially as he got the Military Cross later in the war for an act of heroism while commanding a troop of AVRE.
Quite right. My grandad was in the 'real' forgotten army that helped to liberate Rome on the same day
My uncle was in Italy.
Those who served there sarcastically referred to themselves as the D-Day dodgers.
Hamish Henderson who served there recorded a song about it, which was apparently provoked by words of Lady Astor. It is set to the tune of Lili Marlene.
He was in the Royal Engineers, so assume that it was an AVRE, especially as he got the Military Cross later in the war for an act of heroism while commanding a troop of AVRE.
Hobart’s creations were indeed the fore runner for todays Armoured Engineers,they were in the 79th Armoured division,you have to remember though there were various forms of AVRE based on the Churchill tank not just a gun tank!
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