Club Arnage

As we are all in high spirits and looking forward to our annual pilgrimage to France, I have just relized that we will be arriving in France on 06/06, this being the 60th anniversary of the D Day landings. Could we all take a few minitues out,to remember these brave people who gave their lifes and freedom for the rest of us to be able to make this trip.
We will never be able to repay them, but at least we can remember them.
Thanks.
Brian.

 good call Brian, i thought we would anyway, with Albert,i  Know he was in tanks.  I'll raise a glass with you to remember them.

Absolutely Brian. Without the courage and bravery of those we should be remembering this world could be a totally different place.

One of our chaps has just returned from visiting his grandfathers last resting place on the 60th anniversary of when his Spitfire was shot down. Very sombering!!

Gentlemen, we salute you!!

My grandfather has just got back from Anzio to remember the landing, and his ship-mates that were lost when his ship was lost.

He too was involved in D-Day, and a great debt of thanks we owe all concerned.

The cost of peace is eternal vigilance....

Those of us making the return trip this year, thanks to the sacrifices of a previous generation, should raise their glasses and toast those who made a one way trip and now rest in foreign soil.

Thankyou.

Nice one Brian. These people are (and  were) worth a lot of respect.

AMEN!!!!  

Well said

I would recomend making a detour to one of the Cemetaries.

Go to a normal cemetary in the UK and it's taken hundereds of years to popultate them.

It took a few days to fill the D-Day Cemetaries.

Giveing up a few minutes of having fun to think about all the young men many only boys who gave up the rest of their life so that we have our life is the very least we can do,

t.

Thanks chaps, for putting down the sentiments I was thinking.

Spot on Nobby

Excellent call - we'll stop for a minute's silence by the roadside on the way.

We visited a WW1 cemetary on the way back a couple of years ago. Very moving, very humbeling God bless them.

Always stand at the pointy end of the ship as we approach Caen and wonder what it must have been like being first ashore on that day sixty years ago. Bloody terrifying I would think. Usually our lot do some sort of small act of remembrance or visit a museum. Anyone been in the one at Ouistreham, next to the ferry. I think it's the Atlantic Wall Museum?

Except for those in the professional Armed Forces,  anyone younger than 60 really are the lucky ones not to have had to face anything remotely like those guys & girls did .....

Is it too much to hope that there will be another 60 years pass without another conflict where we have to fight for our existance ?

Braver than any of us will ever have to be - thank God.
We should not forget that the majority of other side were not exactly there by choice either.

Here, Here totally agree what they did for us should and will not be forgotton.

Unfortunately not as many people of my generation seem to share the same view which is a disgarce.

I will be having a toast to them during the week.

Thank You.

Amen,

Is there a guide on the areas available. we are on a later than intended ferry and have more than enough time (that sounds terrible when put against the debt owed by us to those that fell) to visit some places and pay our respects.

We have said a prayer at war graves in the past, but have yet to visit Pegaus bridge etc.

There is a memorial to a Canadian Lancaster shot down near arnage. Its south of the circuit on one of the dirt roads.
Stopped there a few years ago around dawn on the sunday, you can still here the cars going round.
Say your thanks to people like them that we can enjoy our todays because they gave their tomorrows

I think here particularly of the nose art that adorned - and still does - aircraft, messages chalked on tanks etc.   The Armed forces have always been adept at putting humour into even the most dire situations, so I think it would be appreciated by most.   As many know from other posts, I have the privilege and pride of being a serving member of the light blue for the last 27 years.   It always heartens me enormously to know that guys who have no particular connection with us think of those past and present in the Armed Forces, and take the time out to remember the sacrifices in their own way, whether at the prow of the Caen ferry, or stopping at one of the war cemeteries or battle fields on the way.  

To all of you who do remember and think of these things from time to time - a humble thank you.  


Apologies to all. This post now appears slightly out of context, but it was a response to a post which has now been removed, but stands in it's own right.

Nordic,

          Try these as a starter.

http://www.normandy-dday.com/gb/08dday/normandy-dday/Default_Gb.asp?thema=history
 (http://www.normandy-dday.com/gb/08dday/normandy-dday/Default_Gb.asp?thema=history)

http://www.raf.mod.uk/dday/ (http://www.raf.mod.uk/dday/)

Mark

I would like to thank all that have posted on this humble thread. As Smokie, says it brings shivers to my spine and I may add a tear to the eye on your stunning response.
Raise a glass to them all ( and I do mean all that lost there lives in this conflict) during our trip.
Then enjoy the event and call in for a low flyer on MB.
Thanks
Brian.

The Soldier
 
If I should die, think only this of me:

That there’s some corner of a foreign field

That is forever England. There shall be

In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,

Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,

A body of England’s, breathing English air,

Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

Rupert Brooke

One of the few poems that means anything to me.  Whenever I'm out on a trip  and see a war memorial I make a point of reading all the names and nationalities..

Being an ex-Merchant Navy marine engineer, whenever I'm in London in the Tower Hill area, I always visit the Merchant Navy memorial garden.

It always saddens me to know that, apart from the military losses of the World Wars, the Merchant Navy also suffered heavy losses - 24,000 in World War Two.

From the memorial inscription :
"The twenty four thousand of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets are honored on the walls of this garden gave their lives for their country and have no grave but the sea."


more information here :
http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/INDEX.htm (http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/INDEX.htm)
and here :
http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/TOWER.htm (http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/TOWER.htm)


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Nice one Steve, as x MN myself can relate to this.
Brian.

Rhino, The Canadian Lancaster is of particular interest to me would you PM me details of location.?
Nordic, Pegasus Bridge is well worth a visit. Be sure to cross over to the other side where the gliders landed.  I intend to see the museum there this year.
Brian,Thanks for starting this thread.
Canada Phil

Hmmmm.....
Not sure about this one. It's a fine line between respect and jingoism, and a lot of non-allies died too, believing they were doing the right thing.
Changing tack a little, I visited Thiepval last year, and even though it was summer, that particular day was overcast with a penetrating drizzle. It was difficult to walk away without feeling very humble. Maybe places such as Thiepval are where our respects should be paid.
H

If you should ever get to the Menin Gate, be prepared for a VERY long stay.  It is truly awe inspiring.  So many names it defys belief.

For anyone interested in getting hold of maps of the normandy landing beaches, there are an abundance of both Engish and French maps available from Stanfords in Long Acre Covent garden. They also have a comprehensive range for the 14-18 front line, campaign and trench maps.
Particularly good ones are Major and Mrs. Holts series (don't laugh). They have cemeteries, memorials etc all clearly marked.

If any of you out there haven't paid a trip to the Somme, I suggest that you make a point of doing so. I is quite simply one of the most moving experiences you will ever have bar none. The tranquility and serenity of these places is something that will last with you for a life time. It is also a  supreme example of the futility of any conflict and the unsurpassed bravery of ALL of the fallen.
We really are not worthy.

Rusty

www.stanfords.co.uk  

Last year we called in to Sainte Mere Eglise and then onto some of the D Day beaches. Very moving indeed to see what both sides endured during that time. My old man flew Libs and although he has gone now I still remember the few discussions that we had in his later years when he talked about the carnage and death on both sides.
He and many others gave us what we have today. If things had turned out differently then we may not be having this discussion. Who knows.

I for one will shed a tear or two in remembering all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Here's to the flyboys...

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Chap I worked with many years ago (as an apprentice) turned out to have a "who gives a f**k" attitude to work, due to his experice in Lancasters in WWII.

Turns out that he was a tail gunner, the average life expectancy of which was 3 missions.  (thats 3 flights).

He ended up doing 3 tours of duty as a tail gunner, each tour being 30 ops (flights).  That's 90 ops, and he survived!!!!  I can't imagine the horrors that he saw in that time, but it must have been some sort of mind bending experience.

What the hell do you relate to after that?

  My father was amongst the first "wave" of men that went into Sword beach on D Day, he came back, thankfully, but something like 70% of his unit are still there, I made a promise to him that I would commemerate  his comrades for him, { he wouldn't go back again, meet me and I'll tell you why  :'( not nice, believe me} it took me a few years to find their graves, I've laid a wreath once and will do so again, this year and as for as long as I can  :'(, the images in my mind that he gave me will live with me for the rest of my life, [not just of D-Day, but of the entire war, he served in all theatres of the war  :'( ]  if we don't remember themALL  then it was all wasted, both sides had men that were fanatics, (talk to, and listen to, men that were there, the germans weren't the only ones that did atrocities, so did the allies, I have images in my mind {from my father} of things carried out by the allies,  so don't think everything was one sided)
  Sorry but this whole subject   hurts I've spent too many nights with images of the whole war in my mind, and with promises made that are hard to fulfill, they'll be done, but it's not easy,


  excuse the rant, just had to say it  :'( :'( :'(

Ironically, it's Memorial Day today in the US.  I passed on heading to the Brickyard (which is finally running after much rain delay) but this weekend is obviously a big reminder of the sacrafices made.  I think the best way to honor those who lost their lives in the World Wars is to be aware of the way we can live now based on their efforts.  We used to meet-up with some crazy German guys every year at the track and have a right old serious session.  I remember on the 50th anniversary thinking how those brave men on all sides of the conflict would have felt to know that what they were doing was worth something - that the world would be returned to a place where 50 years later we were firing champagne corks at each other instead of lead.  So if you want to honor the dead, find yourself in thought for just a moment during the mayhem and tip a glass to them at some point in the weekend.

Cheers

      If you can, take the opportunity to see the Pegasus Bridge Museum and the Arramonches Museum. Both of these areas were liberated by the Brits and Canadians.
      Being an American old enough to remember D-Day and all of WWII, I was overwhelmed when I visited Omaha Beach, Point Du Hoc and particularly the American Cemetery with its 9000+ graves.
       My father's brother was with the American 29th Division (one of the Yanks who were 'over paid, over sexed and over here' ... In England) who landed on the Normandy shores on D-Day. he survived and after the war he and my dad worked together. I still remember once when a high speed train suddenly passed by and my uncle jumped under our truck, the look in his eyes was something I still cannot forget.
     I grew up with several guys who fought in Korea. My best friend died in battle in Korea in 1951. So I, in my old age, can remember WWII, Korea, Nam, Desert Storm and now Afghanistan and Iraq. I may not like why we are there, but I will support any and all of the military for doing what they do for me.
                TO THE VETERANS OF ALL WARS.

Well said Pidge

although living in Brittany me and Mrs RS2 have never ventured up to Normandy beaches to view this scene and have always put it on our "must do" list. reading these posts ensures it will be done sooner rather than later.
We have American friends in our village who inform us that you can "sponsor" a grave (which they do) of unknown soldiers which generally means visiting it and placing flowers etc and contributing to its upkeep.

I think we will do the same...

well said everyone.

Drove on a classic car run from London to Euro Disney over 11 years ago, part of the route took us through fields and fields of white crosses.

I always thought that when politicians sit down to talk about war, all the politicians should sit in the middle of one of these fields and look around and then listen.

To all who went and those who did not come back - I'll raise a glass in France and say cheers.

Thank you.

On Sunday, many NPR radio stations over here are, for ten hours, replaying original radio broadcast's of the invasion of the Normandy coast on June 6, 1944.  Any rememberances of the Second World War  bring up very poingant memories for my family. My Grandfather was in the US Marine Corps during the thick of the Pacific campaign against the Japanese and was very badly wounded in the fight for Iwo Jima, suffering wounds that never fully healed both physically and emotionally.
Fax

I'd strongly suggest you do it.  It's one of the more moving experiences you'll ever have.  To see those gun inplacements is breathtaking.  Really makes you realize the horrific scenes that must have unfolded down there on those beaches.

I remember the first time I visited the Vietnam memorial wall in Washington DC.  It was truly shocking to see 60,000 names on those walls.  Such as waste of life.

The new WWII memorial there looks incredible.

My parents live 10km away from the Normandy beaches, it is quite awesome to think whilst swimming in the sea at what has happened here in the past.

There are leftovers from that Day especially at Arromanches and many other spots along the coast, many of which I've got used to seeing but haven't really paid much attention too.



At the moment all the roads leading to the beaches from roughly 15km in land, are closed due to the trouble GW Bush brings with him. :(

I have just returned from a small event at Portsmouth seafront. The Brittany Ferry ship Normandie is full of War Veterans going to Normandy , and they had an escort from Period Small ships , A War ship from UK, canada, Australia and USA, plus  a flying escort of 2 Spitfires and a Lancaster bomber.

I have posted a piccy, but will put them on my website, if anyone is interested, i can post up a link.

From everything i saw today

I was humbled.

Link to piccies please Robbo   :-*

Get the pics up Robbo. Absolutely Brilliant.

Yes please Robbo, watched the Normandie sail out this morning on tv, great to see so many people turn out to wave them all off,
Brian.

You may have to wait unti lwe return from Le Mans for the photo's as my internet person ( rich ) is busy working at the docks until we now leave for le mans, and i havent a clue how to load them on.

But they will be there.

Im going out tomorrow,Via Pegasus Bridge,
It's just something that has to be done.
I have so much respect for the vet's you can not imagine what they went through........

Just watched some of the coverage on the Beeb.

I am in total awe of the courage these men and women showed when our country and the world needed them to show it. We cannot imagine the fear they must have experienced and overcame.

To see the look in their eyes after all these years is quite humbling and makes me feel I should pay my respects.

I and our convoy will be visiting a cemetary in Normandy on the way back this year, not sure which one yet, but I think that we owe it to their memory.

They should not ever be forgotten and I just hope thier efforts will never again have to be repeated.

Total respect to them all.

After all, if it wasn't for them , we would not be here.

I will also pay homage at the Pegasus bridge and also Aromanche on the way home thou, as i have a split journey leharve out but Cherbourg in.
vive la overlord operation. :)

I'd like to thank all contributors to this thread, which I personally found quite moving.

I've locked the thread for posterity...