D-Day - 81st Anniversary - Lest We Forget!

[Uncle Phil]

Let us never forget those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom on this day and the days that followed.
If you are ever in the U.K. pay a visit to Slapton Sands.

https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/exercise-tiger.html

Slapton Sands training area and Exercise Tiger

Slapton Sands was one of several large areas around the UK that were used for major rehearsals for D-Day, where large numbers of troops could land on the beach and all branches of the armed forces could work together and practice their roles in the operation. One of these rehearsals was Exercise Tig

theddaystory.com

 

[Sadlsor]

Difficult to imagine the fear - and the courage - it took those boys to get that done.
The unedited version (not today's TV movie) of Saving Private Ryan is as close as most will get, and that was pretty hard to watch.
It wasn't Hollywood for those who were there.
Respect from me, always.

 

[Peppermint]

Many members of my family (both men and women) served with the Canadian and British forces during both World Wars (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry - hence, my name; Royal Canadian Regiment; Gordon Highlanders; Royal Canadian Air Force; Royal Air Force; Royal Canadian Navy). My father's cousin was one of those terrified, seasick young men who landed on Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. He was grievously wounded but miraculously survived and made the beach head. Lived with a body full of shrapnel and a pronounced limp for the rest of his life as a reminder. Just typing this brings tears to my eyes.

Lest we forget.

Patty

 

[St-Gerard]

Mom and Dad were Children living in Holland through WW 2 , and I have to give a big Thank you to all the Soldiers that served.

 

[STFlips]

Let us never forget those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom on this day and the days that followed.
If you are ever in the U.K. pay a visit to Slapton Sands.

That was a sobering read about Slapton Sands, Phil, so many sad stories, untold stories of unimaginable courage and horror during those dark years.
It occurs to me that our generation may be one of the last ones to actually know people who were there, like Patty's cousin, my wife's uncle and my father.
Patty, I too had tears walking Juno and Omaha beaches, Dutch war cemeteries, Vimy and Menin Gate daily ceremonies a few years back.
My children and theirs will never have a chance to meet these brave souls who gave us our freedom.
.

 

[Uncle Phil]

That was a sobering read about Slapton Sands, Phil, so many sad stories, untold stories of unimaginable courage and horror during those dark years.
It occurs to me that our generation may be one of the last ones to actually know people who were there, like Patty's cousin, my wife's uncle and my father.
Patty, I too had tears walking Juno and Omaha beaches, Dutch war cemeteries, Vimy and Menin Gate daily ceremonies a few years back.
My children and theirs will never have a chance to meet these brave souls who gave us our freedom.
.

The Brits took me there on one of my rides in the U.K.
It was quite a somber experience to see it.
And I bought the book that the local guy who recovered the tank wrote about it.

Uncle Phil - UK 2005 Day 07

 

[Fawlty]

Here is an extract from the obituary of Roy Hayward, who died in January aged 99, he landed on Gold Beach, D-Day with the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry and was badly wounded in the Battle of Normandy.

'Hayward was reserve tank crew and went ashore at Le Hamel in darkness that evening on an ammunition lorry. He followed the tanks to Bayeux and camped in the countryside. Casualties increased, and he joined a tank crew as a wireless operator.


On June 25, they were close to the village of Fontenay-le-Pesnel when they were called to support an infantry unit which was being held up by an enemy force which dominated a narrow lane. The infantry sergeant climbed on to the tank, stood next to the tank commander in the turret and gave directions.

Hayward as a Royal Armoured Corps trainee

Suddenly the Sherman tank was hit by a shell which did not penetrate the front armour. The driver took avoiding action but a second shell then penetrated the hull. It exploded in the tank, which immediately caught fire. Enough remained of Hayward’s left heel to enable him to stand and he managed to push the sergeant out of the turret before he hauled himself out and dropped down into the lane.
Ammunition in the tank was exploding and he crawled away until he was clear of it. He was fully conscious but had severe burns, while his right leg below the knee was shattered and his left foot was missing. He lay there for some time until two stretcher bearers came up and asked him if he was still alive. They lifted him on to a metal rack on a jeep and took him to a field dressing station where both his legs were amputated below the knee.'

Bless Roy.
Bless 'em all.

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

Thanks, Phil. You beat me to it. I did know about the terrible loses during the invasion prep. I’ve toured all the D-day sites, cemeteries (including the German’s)… sobering. Hard to imagine the scale of it all. Nothing like my little jungle war.

John

 

[Sadlsor]

Hard to imagine the scale of it all. Nothing like my little jungle war.

John

Having only served in times of "peace", i imagine there is no war like any other.
Ever.
And when men are being killed by other men, none of it is "little."
Ever.

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

American


German

 

[Bikeric]

Just got back from Vers sur Mer Normandy Memorial and Omaha Beach both St Laurent and Vierville sur Mer paying our respects to the fallen and those who survived fighting for our freedom.

 

[Bikeric]

We were at Pegasus Bridge Wednesday visiting Madame Gondree at the café and giving her the annual gift of British biscuits. Met the son of one of the Veterans there, the son of John Beddoes who died recently and had an interesting chat with him and his friend.