An emotional watching D-Day 80 coverage from Bayeux, especially last night

We were fortunate & honoured to have been able to take grandad there in 2012 for his first return since he was there in 1944

The tales (some humorous ones) on that trip that he’d never spoken of before and we’ll never forget

Just watching now on BBC, their bravery and humility is really remarkable, we should never forget the sacrifice they made for our liberty.

Remembering my late father who came ashore on Gold beach on 6th June, 1944.

Lest we forget.

Was fortunate to attend the Bayeux service myself with my Grandad in-law. Was the first time he’d been back as well. He spoke more than he ever had whilst he was there. I remember looking into his eyes at Gold Beach and you could sense the memories flooding back. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Never forgotten.

Members of the public are invited to join two events in Burnley that will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

A short memorial service will be held at 11am on Thursday in the Peace Garden (next to Burnley Central Library). It will be led by Father Roger Parker and will include a sounding of the Last Post, a two-minute silence, the Reveille and the opportunity to lay wreaths at the end of the service.

At 9-15pm, a beacon will be lit at the Singing Ringing Tree, off Crown Point Road as part of a national chain of beacons across the country. There will also be five "Peace Lamps" to reflect the five Normandy beaches Allied soldiers landed on in 1944.

Pearcey wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 9:15 am

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Was fortunate to attend the Bayeux service myself with my Grandad in-law. Was the first time he’d been back as well. He spoke more than he ever had whilst he was there. I remember looking into his eyes at Gold Beach and you could sense the memories flooding back. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Never forgotten.

Sounds like it was a similar experience to us.
We’d asked him a few times, but he never wanted to talk about it, and obviously we never pushed him too.

But the 5 days we had there with him, he told us everything.

From the journey over, where he lost his rifle due to the roughness of the sea so he stole somebody else’s so he wouldn’t get in trouble, and also lost that one, to the time he spent as a POW guard, where the new intake of German soldiers they had scrubbed the place clean before they would sleep in it after the previous Italian occupants had left.

The service last night was superb. Tasteful sensitive and moving.
This morning Normandy blessed with good weather and another moving ceremony.
God bless those that never came back.

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 10:12 am

Sounds like it was a similar experience to us.
We’d asked him a few times, but he never wanted to talk about it, and obviously we never pushed him too.

But the 5 days we had there with him, he told us everything.

From the journey over, where he lost his rifle due to the roughness of the sea so he stole somebody else’s so he wouldn’t get in trouble, and also lost that one, to the time he spent as a POW guard, where the new intake of German soldiers they had scrubbed the place clean before they would sleep in it after the previous Italian occupants had left.

It’s incredible to hear these stories. We were in the museum in St Mere Eglise and he saw a jeep and all over a sudden he just told us he was shot in the shoulder whilst driving and his mate shot dead next to him. As we were leaving the museum, an American lady came over after hearing the story, in tears and thanked him for his service.

Some died in the landing craft.

Some died in the waves.

Some died on the beaches.

Some died in the fields of Normandy.

Some died of their wounds after that.

Some died of sadness and trauma.

All of them suffered.

For us.

Lest We Forget

tremendous respect for the services that have taken place. We owe a massive debt of gratitude to those that took part.

i just wish they wouldnt try and make it about Ukraine, i find that massively disrespectful of Biden

The greatest generation.

I have my Grandad's war medals proudly showing on the mantlepiece.

We should all make sure their service and sacrifice are never forgotten by future generations, and we shouldn't leave it up to others. Tell your kids and grandkids etc.

This link is interesting.

D-Day Timeline

https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/d-day/timeline

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 5:03 pm

This link is interesting.

D-Day Timeline

https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/d-day/timeline

I visited the site of General Dwight D Eisenhower's office this morning to pay my respects to everyone involved in D-Day. Eisenhower was based there for 3 months from March to early June 1944. It's where Operation Overlord was planned. SHAEF: Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. It's in Bushy Park, South West London. There are some events planned over the weekend.

The ceremonies at the British memorial were very moving. I plan to visit some time.

Have been to Arrowmanche, Pegasus Bridge, Omaha beach and St Mere Eglise a couple of times. The Museums are very interesting and thought provoking visit too.

Lest we forget

My grandfathers destroyer struck a mine off Juno beach on D Day
HMS Wrestler, he had been in the the Mediterranean previously on her and he took photographs which I have in his WW2 photo album of the HMS Ark Royal sinking after being bombed by Italian aircraft.

Basler Turbo Conversions in Oshkosh, Wisconsin installs modern turbine engines on old Douglas DC-3 and C-47 airframes, primarily selling them to South American air forces. They keep around a dozen old airframes in a field, waiting for the next conversion project. About 10 years ago, it was discovered that one of these airframe hulks had an incredible history. It was a C-47 called "That's All, Brother" from World War II. This aircraft, equipped with special radar, led the formation of over 800 planes that dropped thousands of brave paratroopers behind enemy lines shortly after midnight on D-Day.

The idea of this historic plane being converted into a modern military gunship really bothered me, so I organized a Kickstarter to fund its restoration. At first we were just trying to raise $50,000, but the whole campaign took off and we ended up with $328,000. At that time, the full restoration was estimated at $600,000. That turned out a bit optimistic, the actual number was north of $4 million. But worth every penny to see "That's All, Brother" back in Normandy leading the 80th anniversary flyover formation today!

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 6:48 pm

Have been to Arrowmanche, Pegasus Bridge, Omaha beach and St Mere Eglise a couple of times. The Museums are very interesting and thought provoking visit too.

Lest we forget

My Dad was a D Day Veteran so I was moved a few times this morning.

The best of everything was Pegasus bridge Cafe, I met Madame Gondree as a kid in the late 70's and then her daughter

Near Cean, there is a Church at St Honorine, the church changed hands a number of times

He once had to motorcycled into Caen to get his regiment food, he came across Camembert, loved it so sent some home to Burnley. His mother and father opened it and the smell, she threw it away. When he came back he was shocked they'd thrown it away, it meant smell he said

I’d post some pictures from his WW2 album but I can never work out how to send images on here, it never seems to work easily

Tw@ wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 10:42 pm

I’d post some pictures from his WW2 album but I can never work out how to send images on here, it never seems to work easily

If you could work it out that would be fantastic. I’m sure someone on here could help you out with some instructions.

Brave Brave Men ….. they gave everything for the freedom we have today.

Tw@ wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2024 10:42 pm

I’d post some pictures from his WW2 album but I can never work out how to send images on here, it never seems to work easily

What type of phone/device you are using?
Sure one of us can talk you through it

iPhone Wilks, I’ve got some good photos of his adventures from the Mediterranean to Singapore during his Royal Navy service in WW2

Full Editor & Preview
Click Attachments tab
Add Files
Photo Library
Select the photos then Add

You’ll then get something like this Then submit

Cheers Wilks I’ll have a bash tomorrow possibly as I’m glued to the tv at the moment watching England dominate a lesser team 1 nil down as I type

That Tom Jones Song - wow!