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Did something happen on this day, once?
It`s not Parry`s birthday is it?
Seem to think it involved our best mates Herman and Kermit, somehow.
Was it a barby, to celebrate a new European Superstate No, haven`t a clue
Seem to remember a lot of blokes, waiting to get on board for a cross channel trip, possible booze cruise? And Winston was there, giving them a rousing oration which ended with the words,
"For the last bloody time, will you get on those f@#k ing boats"
Anyone got any ideas
Aye,

P.S. Take a tot and think how fast things change

59 years ago Harry, and the weather here is pretty much as it was then!

I visited Normandy a couple of years ago, and Omaha Beach was closed for repairs! It was closed 59 years ago too, but that didn't stop them landing on it. No wonder the Germans were annoyed.

Maybe next year it will be celebrated with a bit more style, including the first anniversary of Yomp 30!

I read in the paper recently that the government cant or wont
afford any special activities for d-day.They are sending a
couple of blokes and a small band.
Probably glen millar.

Aye Sunman .

It may have something to do with Britain being so steeped in history that they don't commemorate every major event in their history.

In Canada D-Day is a big event with many veterans and serving members attending ceremonies in Normandy. US TV also give D-Day extensive coverage.

Aye - Andy. :laola:

Ahoy there!
Those lads demonstrated how Brits should visit Europe.
I met an old boy in the foyer of the UJ Club yesterday. He was wearing his Airborne Forces regalia. He told me he was off to France for the D-Day celebrations.

Also 23 years ago today 139Tp were passed for duties.

Once gave a bit of a presentation on the Canadian end of the beach-head. Their beach was called "Nan Red". Me, missus aitch and the outlaws had a long weekend in Normandy couple of years back. As we walked along the front I wasn`t paying any attention to where we were and suddenly I noticed a large area of brickwork on one of the houses was slightly lighter in colour to the rest of the house. I looked closer and most of the roof tiles were lighter, too. Builders eye, never turns off. There was something about that house but I couldn`t put me finger on it. As we walked on, most of the houses were 50`s or 60`s built, then we passed another with the same big patches of newish brickwork. Suddenly it jumped out at me. I was standing on the Nan Red objective. The first house had a German SP Gun backed into the lounge through the window, the second house had an 88 firing in the anti-tank role, parked in it`s front garden. I reckognised them from the phots I`d seen and I don`t mind telling you the hairs on me neck were well up when I realised what I was looking at. The tide that day was well out, at least 2000yards. On D-Day it wasn`t quite a high tide, but not far off. What struck me was how flat the beach was. There was no hiding place. Canadian Cdos eventually landed where I stood and linking up with Four Five, made their way inland, using the bridge that the Ox and Bucks Airborne had secured north of Ouistram.
Their goal was Caen. The whole invasion front was facing south. Well there wasn`t much of tactical importance, to the south. What was needed was a Left Wheel, to turn the invasion force eastwards. The key to this vitally important manouvre, was the capture(total flattening, more like) of Caen. Without this, Herman could have sent an armoured unit or two, to push along the coast and severe the logistics. The invasion army would have withered on the vine ,had this happened.
Well, the Commandos, British and Canadian, plus others, eventually managed to take Caen and provide the Allies with the `hinge` about which, the whole army could execute it`s vital "Left Wheel". Since we don`t own Hollywood, there has never been a fillum about this. Much attention on the breakout from the Bocage, and the capture of large amounts of Germans, in the Fallais pocket, while the good ole Britishers were stuck at the East end of the Beach-head. If Caen had remained in German hands, D-Day would have been the biggest defeat, ever.

If ever you go to Normandy, look at the beaches, look at what the boys did, the American Rangers were outstanding at their end of the beach and I`m not knocking Elmer, by any means. Look at what is left of Herman`s defences. Festung Europe indeed. Walk round modern-day Caen. The city center has been totally re-built and looks the same as it did before the war, with it`s Sunday market and live geese for sale. There is a huge ring around the city center which was built in the sixtys and shows the extent of fighting and destruction in June, 1944.
Finally, if you ever go to Normandy, walk through any of the cemetries, there are plenty to choose from. I defy you to read the names of the fallen with dry eyes.
To those brave young lads, please take a minute and think.

At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning,
We will Remember them
We will remember them.


Gents, take a tot to those members who gave their all and stayed in Normandy.

Aye,

Ahoy there!

For our tomorrow they gave their today.

Brave men, whose sacrifice should never be forgotten

Splice the mainbrace in the memory of those who paid the ultimate price in all conflicts.

Having chatted to many of the D-Day vets on occassions I have nothing but total respect and unrelenting admiration. The dits these gentlemen spin make your hair stand on end. It was a long war for them and they didn't have a clue how long they would be away from home.Real hand to hand stuff and trench warfare for months on end. May they all find peace wherever they are laid.

Not just the names, Harry, it was the ages that got me. Most of them just kids, hardly out of their teens, some of them not even that.
And here we are 59 years later, and still we have Mothers mourning their sons who died just a few short weeks ago.

Sandy

The ferry crossings to Caen at this time of year are a hoot, have a chinwag with the survivors. 59 years ago they went out as boys and returned as men. To watch them walking around the sights of Caen and Ouistreham is uplifting. They all have huge smiles, and are delighted to be meeting old and new friends alike.

It was a similar reaction at Okehampton.

It never really meant much to me, a kid born in 62, just 17 years after it all ended. Just some old boys with medals and collecting tins.

Then I saw Saving Private Ryan.

I realised how lucky I had been, not having to have gone through it, and what bravery they had all shown. I feel humble now every time I see them, and make sure I shake thier hands and say thanks as I donate.

It says much about us as a nation that it took an American film, about Americans to realise part of out own recent history.

It says we can`t afford a decent fillum industry
1962, eh? Who remembers 1962?
No one
1963 was the one,

It is little, or no thanks to the Canadian government that there is a Canadian contingent at the D Day commemoration at Normandy. The 8.5 million dollar memorial opened at Juno Beach this year was paid for, in the main by private donations. The largest contributor was Wal-Mart, an American company. The government had to be forced into providing some money.

Aye - Andy.

Yep my old dad went ashore on D Day with the Duke of Wellington regt, I believe. He lasted as long as falase before getting shot through the shoulder. He was very candid about it and I believe it was one of the reasons he wanted me to go into the Marines. He alway said as I was joining he wanted me to be trained well enough to survive. I have many thing to be grateful to him for but most of all, that

He went back years and years later on the Camberra, funny how thing go around I had been on there just a few years before.

Lee