I find it staggering that nobody has started a D-Day thread. It is not political in my humble opinion but instead our duty to remember those unbelievably brave men who sacrified their own lives to save those of millions of people of their own generation and future generations.

Is it really too much to ask to pay tribute to them? We owe it to them to ensure what they did is remembered.

LEST WE FORGET

It’s never too much to ask anyone to pay tribute. It’s probably been worthy of less mention here because of other circumstances and that we had the big 75th anniversary two years ago and then for VE Day last year.

It is a privilege to bear arms for your country. I would imagine there were some very scared young men who were ready to do just that 77 years ago today. Their bravery cannot be forgotten, nor can it not be marked.

Lest we forget...

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc. ... 373932.amp

Hope this link works for a new memorial unveiled in France today, must always remember their sacrifice.

There have been a few items on the BBC today about the National arboretum that’s been officially opened and a number of veterans are there after campaigning for it.

Such bravery by those who fought this and every other battle during WWII.

If anyone hasn't seen it yet you should watch Band of Brothers. An incredible mini series about the D-day landings and beyond by the 101st Infantry Airborne Division, has interviews with men that were actually there too.

We can only repay the debt we owe them by never forgetting about them.

Hello claretcrav,

Many thanks for the link which works fine. Splendid memorial.

Hello ClaretAndJew,

Yes, totally agree. Excellent series.

The Bravest Generation

For those of us of a certain age, late 50's in my case, these WW2 veterans were our age now when we were at primary school. My great-uncle fought in the Great War at the Somme and was mentioned in dispatches twice, another was an R.S.M in the Royal Artillery during WW2, whilst my Grandfather died in uniform in 1943. Another was only 19 in 1945, and was dispatched to the Far-East to help liberate the Japanese POW camps ! He was given the choice of a 7 week sea passage home, or taking a series of flights accompanying the deceased's records & personal effects. He chose the latter, which eventually took 15 flights over 17 days in " Dakota " transport planes .... he refused to fly ever again, and died in 2005 !

It's a sobering thought that an 20 year old going ashore on D-Day would be 97 now ! Another way of looking at it, is that it's now longer ago since " Baby Jane " by Rod Stewart was No.1, than the time between the end of WW2 and that song hitting the No.1 spot !!

Lest we forget !

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 2:00 pm

We can only repay the debt we owe them by never forgetting about them.

Absolutely.
And of course, as the years go by, there'll inevitably be less and less of these brave souls to tell about it first hand, till we just have archives.

So it's vital to remember.

The best thing anybody can do for them in rememberance is to ensure more life's aren't needlessly lost & collectively work together to achieve world peace, they give up their life's to ensure the wider world would become a more stable safer place, let give them what they would have wanted & what they initially fought for in the first place anything less is staining the memories.

My Uncle, a RM Commando, was one who landed that day and was wounded almost immediately! Hospitalised back home and then later on he served his time out in the Far East. He passed away 3 years ago.

We did the Normandy beaches 2 years ago, we've also been to Passchendaele, Tyne Cot Cemetery and Ypres where the last post is still played every night. Two world wars , countless lives lost.

Must never happen again and we must never forget these sacrifices.

Pity no mention of it at an England international

https://twitter.com/AndyAitcheson/statu ... 73472?s=19


" BBC Reporter, Colin Wills here on the run in to Juno beach, 6th of June 1944.
“The sky is lightning!” #DDay77 @WeHaveWaysPod @almurray @James1940
on! https://t.co/sOopPRfsZA "

We must never forget

Have long thought that the May Day bank holiday should be moved to D day. The most important day in this country’s history bar none. Can you imagine where Europe would be if that mission had failed.

I sat down with my Grandma before she passed away and worked back our family tree on her side.

WW1 and WW2 combined, there were 28 men from her side that went off to war. And. Every. Single. One. Survived.

To this day it still blows my mind.

Royal Marines. Guards. Army. Navy. One of them, Harry Wooster, was at the Somme.

And seeing it down on paper made me realise that even if one or two men from each family passed away, the resulting impact that would have on the remaining family. Whole generations lost, forever.

So many paid the ultimate sacrifice for our today. Let’s not waste it.

RIP.

Some great posts on here. I’m not one for a big debate; but I believe we should remember those men who fought for us, every year, and not not let their memory diminish over time. The longer we reminisce and pass their stories along our families the better. I’d hate their efforts to be gradually forgotten.

"The longer we reminisce and pass their stories along our families the better. I’d hate their efforts to be gradually forgotten."

Hi Bop,

There is a real risk of their efforts being forgotten. It is, of course, true that far more Allied forces died elsewhere than in Normandy. But D-Day is highly symbolic because a second front was crucial. We obviously mustn't forget anyone who paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting fascism. However, if we allow D-Day to be forgotten then I fear every death will be forgotten.

I spent a week or so around Normandy a few years ago. Very humbling seeing the ages on the gravestones in the military cemeteries. The museum at Pegasus Bridge is well worth a visit.

ClaretAndJew wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 1:39 pm

Such bravery by those who fought this and every other battle during WWII.

If anyone hasn't seen it yet you should watch Band of Brothers. An incredible mini series about the D-day landings and beyond by the 101st Infantry Airborne Division, has interviews with men that were actually there too.

If you like Band of Brothers I recommend The Pacific also, same show structure and made also by Hanks and Spielberg but about the Americans fighting the Japanese.

Also a new Band of Brothers will be released later this year.

claretfern wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 3:03 pm

My Uncle, a RM Commando, was one who landed that day and was wounded almost immediately! Hospitalised back home and then later on he served his time out in the Far East. He passed away 3 years ago.

God Bless Him!

corporal jones wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:29 pm

Have long thought that the May Day bank holiday should be moved to D day. The most important day in this country’s history bar none. Can you imagine where Europe would be if that mission had failed.

Brilliant idea

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 2:00 pm

We can only repay the debt we owe them by never forgetting about them.

Absolutely correct!
I have an annual reminder as it's my birthday. Born 11 years after the end of the war.