Lest We Forget

An amazing armada of Allied troops,

British, American, Canadian and more,

landed on Normandy’s beaches on 6th June 1944

to begin the liberation of Europe from years of Nazi occupation.

The planners of this crucial event

for European freedom codenamed it D-Day.

Today we followed the Normandy coast

to learn more about this most daring

and world-changing military operation.

Chronologically, there were three definable phases

to the operation on June 6th 1944:

the air landings (which were centred on Utah Beach

in the west and Sword Beach in the east),

the air and naval bombardments of the Atlantic Wall,

and the seaborne landings on the six beaches

(Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword) and at Pointe du Hoc.

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The Pegasus Bridge was captured soon after midnight , during the night of 5-6 June by the British 5^th Parachute Brigade. 
Pegasus was their emblem.
Major John Howard was the leader of the 180 men who landed in gliders and captured the bridge.

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Sword Beach

The memorial "La Flamme" is large metal flame 
housed on top of a German bunker. 
It is a tribute to the commandos who landed on June 6th 1944. 
The pathway leading to the memorial is lined with stones 
with the names of the French commando's 
who were killed on June 6th, 1944.

There is also a statue of Brigadier Lord Lovat Fraser 
he was the leader of the British Commandos 
who came ashore on D-Day.

The Bill Millin Memorial, 
he was the personal piper of Lord Lovat Fraser . 
Although not officially allowed,
 Piper Bill Millin marched up and down the beach 
during the landings and then later 

as they moved inland as shown in the film The Longest Day.

Field Marshal Montgomery (1887– 1976), nicknamed "Monty"and 
the "Spartan General", was a senior British Army officer 
who fought in both WW1 and WW2. He was in command of all 
Allied ground forces during Operation Overlord 
from the initial landings until after the Battle of Normandy

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Gold Beach

The objectives at Gold Beach were to secure a beachhead, move west to capture Arromanches, establish contact with the American forces at Omaha and to link up with the Canadian forces at Juno to the east.

We didn't see any memorials at Gold beach and

were very surprised to see about ten groups of horses

pulling buggies along the beach.

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Juno Beach

Taking Juno Beach was the responsibility of the Canadian Army,

with sea transport, mine sweeping, and a Naval bombardment force

provided by the Royal Canadian Navy

and the British Royal Navy as well as elements

from the Free French, Norwegian and other Allied navies.

The objectives of the 3^rd Canadian Infantry Division on D-Day

were to cut the Caen-Bayeux road,

seize the Carpiquet airport west of Caen,

and form a link between the two British beaches

of Gold and Sword on either side of Juno Beach.

The Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War

museum and cultural centre.

It pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians

who lost their lives during the War,

of which 5,500 were killed during

the Battle of Normandy and 359 on D-Day.

The Lorraine Cross marks the spot where many 

prestigious visitors were welcomed. 

In the days following June 6^th was the closest to the HQ

of the commander of the Allied Ground Forces,

General Montgomery.

On June 12^th PM Winston Churchill came to convey to him

the British peoples gratitude and trust.

On June 14^th came General de Gaulle.

On 16^th June Montgomery welcomed King George Vl.

The South African PM crossed the beach on June 19^th.

Mr Pielot the Belgian PM and then

Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.

General Montgomery complained to Churchill

that these visits prevented him

from working “properly.

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Arromanches

This seaside town was the site of one of the

great logistical achievements of D-Day.

In order to unload the vast quantities of cargo

needed by the invasion forces without capturing

one of the heavily defended Channel ports,

the Allies set up prefabricated marinas

off two landing beaches code named Mulberry Harbour.

These consisted of 146 massive cement cassions

towed over fromEngland and sunk to form

a semicircular breakwater in which floating bridge spans

were moored. In the three months that followed

the Mulberries facilitated the unloading of a mind boggling

2.5 million men, four millions tons of equipment and 500,000 vehicles.

Port Winston (named after Churchill) can still be seen on the sands.

You might see me in this last photo.

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Cimetiere Americain de Normandie

We visited this beautifully sited, extremely poignant

war cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach and the sea.

There are 9,387 individual crosses dedicated to American soldiers

who lost their lives on D-Day and in the ensuing

Battle of Normandy and race to liberate Europe.

The names of 1,557 men missing in action

are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.

In the centre of the memorial,

the striking bronze statue is entitled

‘Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves’.

The Visitors Centre Museum tells the story of the D-Day Landings

and Battle of Normandy, as well as focusing

on the American soldiers who gave their lives during the campaign.

I was quite touched by this display of good luck tokens

carried by the soldiers.

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Pointe du Hoc was one of key features

of the German defensive fortifications.

During the American assault of Omaha and Utah beaches

on June 6, 1944, The American Second Ranger Battalion

under the command of Lt. Col. James E. Rudder.

scaled the 100-foot cliffs and seized

the German artillery pieces that could have fired

on the American landing troops at Omaha and Utah beaches.

At a high cost of life, they successfully defended

against determined German counterattacks.

They climbed these cliffs using rope ladders!

This was at the top...in good working order at the time!

The site reminds us of what an artillery battery was like,

with its firing command post, casements and shelters.…......................................................................

Lest We Forget