Had a family take one of my people carriers yesterday to take their father over for the celebrations, hasn't seen some of his comrades for over 25 years, almost cried listening to them.
We owe all involved, including all the fisherman and private boat owners a huge debt.
The father of an ex-work colleague was there and was badly wounded on D-Day. He was 19 and conscripted into the German army - given a gun very much against his will and was then sent to Normandy. When he regained consciousness he was in a British hospital. For the rest of his life he thanked the British for saving his life but also wondered why he wasn't just left to die. But that is what the fight against fascism was about.
if I can, I'm going to take my kids in October, make them realise what sacrifices were made by a young generation against tyranny and fascism, just so that we can enjoy freedom of thought, speech and movement.
Not quite a D-Day veteran but landed in Normandy 12th June 1944 and saw active service in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in the RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). Just one of very many heroes, but a very special dad to me.
Not quite a D-Day veteran but landed in Normandy 12th June 1944 and saw active service in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in the RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). Just one of very many heroes, but a very special dad to me.
My grandad also landed in Normandy D-Day, plus 6. He might of gone with another unit on D-Day, but it was settled on the spin of a coin! He told me lots of interesting stories from the war and I wish he was still around to re-tell them. There must have been a great sense of optimism after those landings that the war would soon be over.
Not quite a D-Day veteran but landed in Normandy 12th June 1944 and saw active service in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in the RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). Just one of very many heroes, but a very special dad to me.
And I bet like a lot of our dads, came home after the war and just got on with life. The word heroes is much misused these days, should be reserved for the likes of those we remember today.
Not quite a D-Day veteran but landed in Normandy 12th June 1944 and saw active service in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in the RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). Just one of very many heroes, but a very special dad to me.
Likewise although my father was Middlesex regiment transport division driving armoured personnel carriers, never really liked to speak about his experiences though. Had nearly all his 20's taken from him, 21 when conscripted and 28 when demobbed but lived to 90 and supported the Addicks for 75 of those years. Was certainly my hero now gone but never forgotten and always in my heart.
My Grandad was in the 2nd world war till the end even though he was 41 around the time of D-day. Sadly I never knew him as he passed away in 1957. Would have been good to hear his stories and experiences.
My grandad Lionel Stanley. The Royal Hampshires. He was a soldier from 1923-1951, he joined up as a boy soldier, they were so poor it was the only way he could get a pair of long trousers, he fought in India in 1925, he was at the Retreat of Dunkirk with the BEF in 1940, then landed on Gold beach at Arromanche on 6/6/44 at approx 7.30am, we was 35 years old. He was also regimental boxing champion, and post war, fought bare knuckle. He was an old school 'fighting man' and told me loads of stories when I was younger about what he did during his army career, and went into a lot of detail about D-Day and fighting through France, I wont go into detail here, except I remember him saying that he wasn't keen on bayonet charges (its not the nicest thing to do to a man) suffice to say he did his bit. I still miss him.
My grandad Lionel Stanley. The Royal Hampshires. He was a soldier from 1923-1951, he joined up as a boy soldier, they were so poor it was the only way he could get a pair of long trousers, he fought in India in 1925, he was at the Retreat of Dunkirk with the BEF in 1940, then landed on Gold beach at Arromanche on 6/6/44 at approx 7.30am, we was 35 years old. He was also regimental boxing champion, and post war, fought bare knuckle. He was an old school 'fighting man' and told me loads of stories when I was younger about what he did during his army career, and went into a lot of detail about D-Day and fighting through France, I wont go into detail here, except I remember him saying that he wasn't keen on bayonet charges (its not the nicest thing to do to a man) suffice to say he did his bit. I still miss him.
My grandad Lionel Stanley. The Royal Hampshires. He was a soldier from 1923-1951, he joined up as a boy soldier, they were so poor it was the only way he could get a pair of long trousers, he fought in India in 1925, he was at the Retreat of Dunkirk with the BEF in 1940, then landed on Gold beach at Arromanche on 6/6/44 at approx 7.30am, we was 35 years old. He was also regimental boxing champion, and post war, fought bare knuckle. He was an old school 'fighting man' and told me loads of stories when I was younger about what he did during his army career, and went into a lot of detail about D-Day and fighting through France, I wont go into detail here, except I remember him saying that he wasn't keen on bayonet charges (its not the nicest thing to do to a man) suffice to say he did his bit. I still miss him.
Of course you miss him - but I'm sure you remember him with immense pride, as you should.
My grandad Lionel Stanley. The Royal Hampshires. He was a soldier from 1923-1951, he joined up as a boy soldier, they were so poor it was the only way he could get a pair of long trousers, he fought in India in 1925, he was at the Retreat of Dunkirk with the BEF in 1940, then landed on Gold beach at Arromanche on 6/6/44 at approx 7.30am, we was 35 years old. He was also regimental boxing champion, and post war, fought bare knuckle. He was an old school 'fighting man' and told me loads of stories when I was younger about what he did during his army career, and went into a lot of detail about D-Day and fighting through France, I wont go into detail here, except I remember him saying that he wasn't keen on bayonet charges (its not the nicest thing to do to a man) suffice to say he did his bit. I still miss him.
Of course you miss him - but I'm sure you remember him with immense pride, as you should.
A hero.
Thanks for you comment. Of course bob, as many other relatives of those that were there are as well.
And he was my childhood hero, he taught me and my brothers to box. He taught us to stand up to those who would bully us or do us harm. He wore a suit everyday. When he worked on sparring with us he would take his jacket, shirt and tie off, and go through combinations in his vest and suit trousers. When he died he left me all his WW2 campaign medals and his original Drummers and buglers braids that he wore in India from 1923-1929. I have dozens of stories about him from his army service, he would always answer our questions about the war etc, and I could go on, I wont, but they were a different breed back then.
Yes, we must be grateful to the heroes who fought for freedom and a better world. Like my Grandad who was in the Navy and lost many of his mates when his boat was sunk. I first started coming to the Valley with him I have been to the normandy beaches and visited the museums there and the courage of the soldiers landing on the beaches was immense. Giving their lives for right. We owe it to them to always do our best for others and maintain the freedoms they fought for.
Comments
Oops! ..... I was only out by 8 hours, though ;o)
Why is the Dakota doing the celebration parachute re-enactment today then ....?
Or the date, Oggy : - )
Brave men who fought and some of whom died fighting fascism.
Makes a change for the Yanks to be early.
Don't know but I guess cos some of the paratroops and gliders went in over night.
We owe all involved, including all the fisherman and private boat owners a huge debt.
Everything we can do & say freely is down to these people
Agreed
Come and stand in memory
Of men who fought and died
They gave their lives in Normandy
Remember them with pride.
Soldiers, Airman, sailors
Airborne and marines
Who in civvy life were tailors
and men who worked machines.
British and Canadian
And men from USA
Forces from the Commonwealth
They all were there that day
To Juno, Sword and Utah
Beaches of renown
Also Gold and Omaha
That’s where the ramps went down.
The battle raged in Normandy
Many lives were lost
The war must end in victory
And this must be the cost
When my life is over
And I reach the other side
I’ll meet my friends from Normandy
And shake their hands with pride.
Not quite a D-Day veteran but landed in Normandy 12th June 1944 and saw active service in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in the RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). Just one of very many heroes, but a very special dad to me.
Makes a change for the Yanks to be early.
Please God, never again.
http://cafcmuseum.itrm.com/news/charltons-forgotten-normandy-hero-
Of men who fought and died
They gave their lives in Normandy
Remember them with pride.
Soldiers, Airman, sailors
Airborne and marines
Who in civvy life were tailors
and men who worked machines.
British and Canadian
And men from USA
Forces from the Commonwealth
They all were there that day
To Juno, Sword and Utah
Beaches of renown
Also Gold and Omaha
That’s where the ramps went down.
The battle raged in Normandy
Many lives were lost
The war must end in victory
And this must be the cost
When my life is over
And I reach the other side
I’ll meet my friends from Normandy
And shake their hands with pride.
Normandy by Cyril Crain
He was a soldier from 1923-1951, he joined up as a boy soldier, they were so poor it was the only way he could get a pair of long trousers, he fought in India in 1925, he was at the Retreat of Dunkirk with the BEF in 1940, then landed on Gold beach at Arromanche on 6/6/44 at approx 7.30am, we was 35 years old.
He was also regimental boxing champion, and post war, fought bare knuckle.
He was an old school 'fighting man' and told me loads of stories when I was younger about what he did during his army career, and went into a lot of detail about D-Day and fighting through France, I wont go into detail here, except I remember him saying that he wasn't keen on bayonet charges (its not the nicest thing to do to a man) suffice to say he did his bit.
I still miss him.
A hero.
Of course bob, as many other relatives of those that were there are as well.
And he was my childhood hero, he taught me and my brothers to box. He taught us to stand up to those who would bully us or do us harm. He wore a suit everyday. When he worked on sparring with us he would take his jacket, shirt and tie off, and go through combinations in his vest and suit trousers.
When he died he left me all his WW2 campaign medals and his original Drummers and buglers braids that he wore in India from 1923-1929.
I have dozens of stories about him from his army service, he would always answer our questions about the war etc, and I could go on, I wont, but they were a different breed back then.