6th June 2019, D-Day 75

Just one of the 18 Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries in Normandy

6th June 2019, D-Day 75 years on

Today marks the 75^th anniversary of D-Day, or Operation Overlord, a massive 7000 vessel seaborne invasion by the Allied Forces on the beaches of Normandy that marked the beginning of the liberation of Europe and the end of the Second World War.

Pegasus Bridge, Normandy, D-Day remembered 75 years on

Over 150,000 British, American and Canadian troops landed on an 80km stretch of coastline at Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach with bicycles, bulldozers, tanks, jeeps and trucks, as well as over 11,000 aircraft to support them. By 11^th June over 300,000 troops and 54,000 vehicles had landed in France. This still remains the largest military invasion and even today these are huge numbers to comprehend as are the number of lives lost. 

Landing craft bulldozer as used by my Dad's cousin Cyril, aged 19

In our current troubled political times, with radical nationalism on the rise, never has the message of world peace and unity, remembered with the commemoration of D-Day, seemed so important. In the memory of those who died for our freedom, we must never again let a war on this scale become a possibility.

Memorial in Arromanches, Normandy

With Ed, aged 18, now a similar age to many of the troops who landed on D-Day, watching the footage on the television this morning it feels more poignant than ever before. My Dad’s cousin Cyril was only 19 when he was one of the first to land on Gold Beach on D-Day. He was driving a bulldozer that was used to search for mines and then to help push the landing craft back into the sea, living on the beach for around eight weeks. I cannot imagine the horrific sights he must have seen in that time and certainly don’t want Ed to experience anything like that, ever. Miraculously Cyril survived and spent the rest of the War in France, Belgium and Holland and returned to Normandy many times over the years, with his family, for the commemorations.

German bunker, Normandy D-Day remembered 75 years on

My Granddad Albert, although not part of the D-Day landings, was also in France for about three years during the Second World War, where he served in the Royal Artillery. He would have been 36 years old at the time of the landings and had a wife and young family at home. Details about his time in the War are sketchy, but he was certainly part of the liberation and repatriation teams working in France, Belgium and Germany and we have a very fragile flag that was given to him by a grateful French villager as they passed through – or so the family story goes. 

Inside German bunker, Normandy

We will remember them

Ruins of German bunker, Normandy

This post has been linked to Lou Messugo's #AllAboutFrance

8th May, Victory in Europe Day

Victory in Europe ceremony

The 8^th May is a public holiday in France to commemorate the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Every year our village, along with other communes, large and small, holds a small ceremony of remembrance; the Maire wears his sash, the village flag is unfurled and a small group of villagers gather together.

Until today, the flag has always been held with pride by one of the old soldiers, but sadly we lost our last one earlier this year (see here). Our Maire has decided that now is the time to pass this honour to the younger generation and today he asked Ed if he would hold it, and as you can see from the photo above, he did it with style.

It was a proud moment for me, but tinged with sadness as I stood next to the widow of our last village soldier, whose absence today was felt by all of us there. This week, our family have also lost our own old soldier. My Dad’s cousin, Cyril, who was only 19 years old when he was one of the first to land on Gold Beach on D-Day. I wrote about Cyril here and when we visited Normandy in 2014 we saw a bulldozer just like the ones that he drove in June 1944 to clear the beach of mines. Without Cyril and the thousands like him, there would be no Victory in Europe Day to remember today and I think it is important for the younger generation to understand this. As Ed stood tall with the village flag, I took a moment to remember Cyril, my Grandad Albert and Jacky who always held the flag with pride.

Norrmandy Beaches D-Day

After the ceremony we gathered in the Salle des Fêtes for a vin d’honneur (wine of honour) and aperitifs, and the tables had been decorated with lilac flowers that looked stunning.

Lilacs decorating the vin d'honneur table

Food and flowers have been a bit of a theme for today as before the ceremony we held our annual plant swap. An informal gathering where seedlings, cuttings and anything plant related is brought along and shared with coffee, cakes and friendly chatter. Village life at its best.

French Village Plant Swap

This post has been linked to Paulita's Ponderings Dreaming of France blog link-up.

D-Day Remembered

Cyril from the front page of the Telegraph 6th June 2014

Today marks the 70^th anniversary of Operation Overlord, or D-Day, a massive seaborne invasion by the Allied Forces on the beaches of Normandy that marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War.

Over 150,000 British, American and Canadian troops landed on Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach with bicycles, bulldozers, tanks, jeeps and trucks, plus there were over 11,000 aircraft to support them. By 11^th June over 300,000 troops and 54,000 vehicles had landed in France. Even today these are huge numbers to comprehend as are the number of lives lost.

Mulberry Harbour Gold Beach

I am not the first in our family to have links with France. My Granddad, although not part of the D-Day landings was in France for about three years during the Second World War where he served in the Royal Artillery. He would have been 36 years old at the time of the landings and had a wife and young family at home. Details about his time in the War are sketchy, but he was certainly part of the liberation and repatriation teams working in France, Belgium and Germany.

Cyril in Normandy 2004

My Dad’s cousin Cyril, aged just 19 was one of the first to land on Gold Beach on D-Day. He was driving a bulldozer that was used to search for mines and then to help push the landing craft back into the sea, living on the beach for around eight weeks. Miraculously he survived and spent the rest of the War in France, Belgium and Holland. This year he will be celebrating his 90^th birthday and despite having had a rough few years he is with his two sons in Normandy today and even made the front page of the Telegraph newspaper this morning. He has returned many times over the years and I’m pleased to report that a big fuss is being made of him and the other veterans.

I cannot imagine the horrific sights he must have seen that day and during his time serving during the War, and at such a young age.

19, is only two years older than my nephew Alex who is studying for his A-Levels and due to take his driving test next week.

19, is only four years older than my nephew Ben who is currently sitting his GCSE’s.

19, is only six years older than Ed, my baby!

I will be taking the time to think about all our heros today. 

We will remember them.