- Location
- Lincs / Cambs border
D Day 75th Anniversary
- Thread starter Bob lincs
- Start date
@JP1 I totally agree. Those that are protesting really should think... I couldnt protest as i have a job and manners!.
Hearing the VETS today saying how they kept going forward even though their comrades were dying in front of them made me shudder... Yes was is evil but some of these blimp flying, Kahn supporting twits realy should think....
Hearing the VETS today saying how they kept going forward even though their comrades were dying in front of them made me shudder... Yes was is evil but some of these blimp flying, Kahn supporting twits realy should think....
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Last night they were posting interviews of the vets. So humble even now. Just grateful they returned as the lucky few. The tank drivers who knew if they were hit and on fire there were three or four to get out of the top port hole before they could, the glider pilots who basially knew they had little prospect of getting back and liberating Bayeux as the first place in France, the men of all Nations, creeds and colour who were only briefed in their landing craft well over to France that this one was the real push.
- Location
- fakenham-norfolk
I watched the ceremony today on the tv.Very moving and exceptionally well presented by our valuable military personal. A fitting tribute to the events 75 years ago.
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
I had the privilege of supplying temporary structures, grandstand seating and other event facilities 20 years ago at Southsea and in Normandy for the Central Office of Information. Sometimes Government does things right and fittingly
newholland
Member
- Location
- England
Thank you @Bob lincs for such an excellent thread.
76masseyman
Member
- Location
- Lincolncestershire
Enjoyed listening to the proceedings on BBC Radio Lincolnshire today @Bob lincs
The laying of a rose by the school children is a wonderful gesture, and I hope it makes that generation appreciate what happened a bit more than some other groups seem to.
Are you with the guy that runs the cafe at Fleet, who has taken the veterans over there ?
The laying of a rose by the school children is a wonderful gesture, and I hope it makes that generation appreciate what happened a bit more than some other groups seem to.
Are you with the guy that runs the cafe at Fleet, who has taken the veterans over there ?
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Jon Snow's hosting of C4 News from the DDay celebrations and him trying to cite Brexit at every opportunity is a b@@ disgrace and I say that as a Remainer. He can't know how those who fell would have voted - nor the survivors
Today is commemorating those who kept us free
Nothing more
Today is commemorating those who kept us free
Nothing more
itsalwaysme
Member
- Location
- Cheshire
This is an account from a local veteran, no longer with us-
As most people know, the invasion force was divided into five landing zones: Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword and I was part of Sword, the most easterly wing of the invasion. Sword was mainly a British operation with some Canadian infantry support and our objective was to assist in the liberation of Caen. When we arrived just east of Caen the combination of bad weather and high tides had reduced the actual landing area on the beach. We were in a confined space and became an easy target. Our tank was pinned down on the beach until late afternoon during which time we were exchanging fire with Rommel’s 21st Panzer Tank Division which was positioned in the corn fields behind the beaches and the sand dunes.
The 10 mile journey to Caen took a week. Our tank had a five man crew and on the first day of the operation I remember the Major in charge of the tank putting his head out of the top hatch to give instructions to the driver, only to be killed by rifle fire. During that week we made some ground and lost some too. The German tanks had superior firing power and a Tiger tank could knock out an Allied tank at just over 3.5kms. Our Sherman 4 tanks needed to get close to the enemy to be lethal but they were extremely nimble.
The tank crew had to grab food wherever they could as more often than not the Army Field Kitchens were not able to serve the tank crews. One of my companions found a cluster of hen’s eggs in a farmyard only to discover that it was a trap laid by the enemy, the eggs having been placed on the top of a disguised land mine!
Ten to fifteen tanks worked together and my tank was one that towed a sledge full of ammunition. When close to Caen, my vehicle attempted to clear a roadblock only to then hit a landmine. The tank was blown off the track completely immobilising it and we then came under assault from Molotov cocktails thrown by enemy infantry. I escaped but was hit by shrapnel to the lower right leg and so my repatriation began, arriving in Southampton on 23 July. Thereafter I was transferred to Cupar Fife, swapped to a job driving an officer
As most people know, the invasion force was divided into five landing zones: Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword and I was part of Sword, the most easterly wing of the invasion. Sword was mainly a British operation with some Canadian infantry support and our objective was to assist in the liberation of Caen. When we arrived just east of Caen the combination of bad weather and high tides had reduced the actual landing area on the beach. We were in a confined space and became an easy target. Our tank was pinned down on the beach until late afternoon during which time we were exchanging fire with Rommel’s 21st Panzer Tank Division which was positioned in the corn fields behind the beaches and the sand dunes.
The 10 mile journey to Caen took a week. Our tank had a five man crew and on the first day of the operation I remember the Major in charge of the tank putting his head out of the top hatch to give instructions to the driver, only to be killed by rifle fire. During that week we made some ground and lost some too. The German tanks had superior firing power and a Tiger tank could knock out an Allied tank at just over 3.5kms. Our Sherman 4 tanks needed to get close to the enemy to be lethal but they were extremely nimble.
The tank crew had to grab food wherever they could as more often than not the Army Field Kitchens were not able to serve the tank crews. One of my companions found a cluster of hen’s eggs in a farmyard only to discover that it was a trap laid by the enemy, the eggs having been placed on the top of a disguised land mine!
Ten to fifteen tanks worked together and my tank was one that towed a sledge full of ammunition. When close to Caen, my vehicle attempted to clear a roadblock only to then hit a landmine. The tank was blown off the track completely immobilising it and we then came under assault from Molotov cocktails thrown by enemy infantry. I escaped but was hit by shrapnel to the lower right leg and so my repatriation began, arriving in Southampton on 23 July. Thereafter I was transferred to Cupar Fife, swapped to a job driving an officer
- Location
- Near Colchester
Nice sight flying past my fields this afternoon.
Scribus
Member
- Location
- Central Atlantic
I took the picture three years ago and had forgotten the reason why I chose that particular cross. I've just viewed it full size and it suddenly came back to me, it is the grave of Elizabeth Richardson of the Red Cross, not all were combatants and not all were young men. It can only deepen one's respect.
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
I see what you did there
- Location
- Lincs / Cambs border
That’s my father in law
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Duxford today. Photo taken by my Brother
Scribus
Member
- Location
- Central Atlantic
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
My Grandad never spoke of it. I think the sights he saw moving on in to France meant he just shielded us from it
One of his last things he encountered in his life was the Blair amnesties to the Irish terrorists and the agenda to prosecute individual Paras in their role as soldiers. The 8th Airborne became the Paras and I could see the steel and the pain and the anger in his eyes even though he never swore or uttered his own opinions in public
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
Just imagine our civil servants of today trying to organise a d day
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Or the politicos. Maybe Corbyn would send them a memo and we wouldn't have to bother