D-Day 80th Anniversary
Discussion
Have been watching the commemorations from Portsmouth on TV and I always get very emotional when hearing the humble recollections of the veterans.
Every year I used to take a group of Year 8 students to Normandy to visit different D-Day sites. I was always impressed by the respect and emotion shown by the students. One year I saw a veteran at Arromanches and asked if he wouldn't mind talking to our group. He was more than willing and to see a man in his late 90s have a group of teenagers listening intently to every word he said was incredibly moving. I was happy to see him recounting his adventures on a recent TV programme. I always let the students visit a grave ay Bayeux War Cemetery and quietly pay their respects in whatever way they found appropriate. This, I said, was incredibly important as that grave may never have had someone visit it and say thank you for their sacrifice. We always laid a wreath at Jerusalem Cemetery near Bayeux which has 47 graves, the smallest CWGC cemetery in Normandy. One of which was 16 year old Jack Banks, who lied about his age when he signed up, this brought it home to the students as they had friends, brothers and sisters the same age.
Never forget their courage and sacrifice during these special days and every day in the future.
Every year I used to take a group of Year 8 students to Normandy to visit different D-Day sites. I was always impressed by the respect and emotion shown by the students. One year I saw a veteran at Arromanches and asked if he wouldn't mind talking to our group. He was more than willing and to see a man in his late 90s have a group of teenagers listening intently to every word he said was incredibly moving. I was happy to see him recounting his adventures on a recent TV programme. I always let the students visit a grave ay Bayeux War Cemetery and quietly pay their respects in whatever way they found appropriate. This, I said, was incredibly important as that grave may never have had someone visit it and say thank you for their sacrifice. We always laid a wreath at Jerusalem Cemetery near Bayeux which has 47 graves, the smallest CWGC cemetery in Normandy. One of which was 16 year old Jack Banks, who lied about his age when he signed up, this brought it home to the students as they had friends, brothers and sisters the same age.
Never forget their courage and sacrifice during these special days and every day in the future.
Agreed - just thousands of truly awe inspiring stories.
I find it impossible to begin to imagine what those people went through - what the world went through.
I can't help but feel anger at the decisions and the decisions makers which lead up to the wars though and it feels like similar mistakes are being made now.
There was one old guy I used to live near as a kid in the 70s and he told me some of the things that he went through but what sticks in my mind was when he said - what they did wasn't bravery - he just did what everyone around him was doing and you had a feeling that it was never going to be you who would be killed or injured. He said his greatest respect was for those who wouldn't fight.
As a teenager, I didn't understand that at the time but I have a better understanding now.
I find it impossible to begin to imagine what those people went through - what the world went through.
I can't help but feel anger at the decisions and the decisions makers which lead up to the wars though and it feels like similar mistakes are being made now.
There was one old guy I used to live near as a kid in the 70s and he told me some of the things that he went through but what sticks in my mind was when he said - what they did wasn't bravery - he just did what everyone around him was doing and you had a feeling that it was never going to be you who would be killed or injured. He said his greatest respect was for those who wouldn't fight.
As a teenager, I didn't understand that at the time but I have a better understanding now.
Spare tyre said:
There’s a wall near the port in Southampton that American soldiers scraped their names into before they left for d day. Truly fascinating and horrifying at the same time. Brave people
Interesting, where is that in the town as I'll need to have a look next time im there.The thing that always impresses me about D Day and the wider operations is not just the sheer bravery and sacrifice given for us, which is awe inspiring, but the planning and organisation of the whole thing. The complex nature of events in the days leading up, operations that were put in place to mesh with other operations to create an improved situation for when later plans came to fruition. A designated place for everyone and everyone in their place.
Then the sheer level of redundancy, here's plan A to deal with that, but in case A doesn't work, plan B and plan C. The amazing level of detail, this glider has troops to capture that, but there are some sappers in the mix to cope if the Germans have planted demolition charges. Plus in the event that bridge has been blown include a few inflatables so can still cross the river.
Then the thousands upon thousands of people who didn't go onto the beaches but played a vital role in harms way, like the massive last minute minesweeping operations, not done earlier to avoid giving the game away.
Not to forget those from across the world, including Commonwealth countries who came and fought and some sadly died, for us.
Emotional.
Then the sheer level of redundancy, here's plan A to deal with that, but in case A doesn't work, plan B and plan C. The amazing level of detail, this glider has troops to capture that, but there are some sappers in the mix to cope if the Germans have planted demolition charges. Plus in the event that bridge has been blown include a few inflatables so can still cross the river.
Then the thousands upon thousands of people who didn't go onto the beaches but played a vital role in harms way, like the massive last minute minesweeping operations, not done earlier to avoid giving the game away.
Not to forget those from across the world, including Commonwealth countries who came and fought and some sadly died, for us.
Emotional.
fourstardan said:
Spare tyre said:
There’s a wall near the port in Southampton that American soldiers scraped their names into before they left for d day. Truly fascinating and horrifying at the same time. Brave people
Interesting, where is that in the town as I'll need to have a look next time im there.lower end of Western Esplanade in Southampton.
g3org3y said:
Unbelievable bravery and sacrifice.
From today's perspective it looks unimaginable so.What's even more amazing is when you get to those involved and nowadays there's so few of those left.
Many who were there would say it wasn't brave - they just had it to do.
There is something in the human psyche which tells us we'll be OK, we won't be the ones getting killed or limbs shot off.
One story I remember is of an ol fella who back in the day was parachuting into France and he said they were all sat there in the plane and he was thinking - look at these poor buggers - some of them won't be making it back.
Rayny said:
fourstardan said:
Spare tyre said:
There’s a wall near the port in Southampton that American soldiers scraped their names into before they left for d day. Truly fascinating and horrifying at the same time. Brave people
Interesting, where is that in the town as I'll need to have a look next time im there.lower end of Western Esplanade in Southampton.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qd72CW8g7sZGbr7L8?g_st=ic
That should work, don’t forget to look at the back of the wall. It really brings it home. The more you look the more you see
Also from there down in the red funnel area are the mulberry harbours
On the other side of the water are mulberry beetles - we walk to them along the shore when the tide is low:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ewHomxFqcrWWZ8iz9?g_st=ic
Edited by Spare tyre on Thursday 6th June 14:00
Eric Mc said:
Absolutely.
It is probably the most impressive example of event planning in history .
The logistics behind it was simply incredible especially without the benefit of any computers. I was reading earlier that they had a logistics plan of what was being shipped, where and on what ship for months in advance. That also included planning train running times from where the equipment/stores/people were in the UK through to the dock ready to load just in time. It is probably the most impressive example of event planning in history .
I've been working this week through most of the day time commemorations so i've recorded them all to catch up at the weekend.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff