80th Anniversary of D-Day June 6th

85769041-13499555-image-a-118_1717627690991.jpg

Peggy kneeling at her brother Cyril's grave who was killed at D-Day

85768251-13499555-image-a-98_1717626420294.jpg

Princess Anne views war graves following the Royal British Legion Service of Commemoration to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day

85769831-13499555-image-a-159_1717628956963.jpg

85768999-13499555-image-a-146_1717627842841.jpg

Drones make a Spitfire during a drone display telling the story of D-Day above the coastline in Portsmouth

85768997-13499555-image-a-144_1717627830508.jpg

Drones spell out 'I can remember' during a drone display telling the story of D-Day above the coastline in Portsmouth, Hampshire
 

Rakaia said:
I'm fairly sure that my father was part of the D Day landings, he was in the British Army, Royal Ulster Rifles, from 1939 - 1952.
Click to expand...
I've just found a BBC news article about the Northern Irish soldiers on D Day, One battalion landed at Queen Red beach, part of the Sword assault zone, the other was landed by gliders. They were tasked with taking Caen.
I would link in the article but don't know how to do it via my phone.
 

85810293-13502919-image-a-28_1717696658663.jpg

King Charles, Bernard Morgan and John Dennett meet together at Buckingham Palace on May 22 - before they travelled to France

85804003-13501855-image-a-3_1717688240196.jpg

Among the world leaders present were (L-R) Poland's President Andrzej Duda, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US First Lady Jill Biden, US President Joe Biden, France's President Emmanuel Macron, French President's wife Brigitte Macron, Britain's Prince William, the Prince of Wales and Australia's Governor-General David Hurley and Australian Governor-General's wife Linda Hurley

85794683-13502919-The_Prince_of_Wales_right_joined_Canada_s_Prime_Minister_Justin_-a-33_1717697204628.jpg

The Prince of Wales (right) joined Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (centre) and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (left) in paying their respects to the sacrifices made by Canadians in the fight
85806163-13501855-image-a-4_1717692736617.jpg

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT) the 'Red Arrows' accompanied by Typhoon Display Team 'Moggy' aircraft fly over the British Normandy Memorial, Ver-sur-Mer
 
85808305-13501855-image-a-8_1717693137192.jpg

The stunning moment from inside one of the RAF Red Arrows as they fly over the British Normandy Memorial, Ver-sur-Mer

85794699-13501855-image-a-52_1717678918876.jpg

Prince William cut a sombre figure earlier in the day before he made a speech paying tribute to Canadian troops who fought in the invasion of Nazi-occupied France
85786245-13501855-The_King_looked_emotional_as_he_listened_to_singer_Johnny_Flynn_-a-67_1717680169021.jpg

85803961-13501855-image-a-2_1717688210094.jpg
 
85799863-13501855-image-a-42_1717683598360.jpg
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska, arrive at the international ceremony at Omaha Beach
85810169-13502919-image-a-26_1717696563936.jpg

Mr Morgan is pushed in his wheelchair by Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion's commemorative ceremony

85810095-13502919-image-a-21_1717696327973.jpg
 
I am still try to fathom what it must have been like to take part in one the largest, greatest
missions to end the rein of terror in Europe.

As large as it was, it was the indivdual acts of courage it took throughout that war that impresses me.

You are told it is your duty to your country, but your only thoughts are for your loved ones back home and the guys
in your Unit.

That part has never changed.

My dad served in the Pacific, 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal, Peleliu and Okinawa.
Later in Korea and Vietnam.
35 years a soldier.

As it has always been in our house, we thank and honor every soldier for what they gave us.
 
Feelslikefar said:
I am still try to fathom what it must have been like to take part in one the largest, greatest
missions to end the rein of terror in Europe.

As large as it was, it was the indivdual acts of courage it took throughout that war that impresses me.

You are told it is your duty to your country, but your only thoughts are for your loved ones back home and the guys
in your Unit.

That part has never changed.

My dad served in the Pacific, 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal, Peleliu and Okinawa.
Later in Korea and Vietnam.
35 years a soldier.

As it has always been in our house, we thank and honor every soldier for what they gave us.
Click to expand...
Your Father must have been quite a man!
 
jimintoronto said:
During WW2 over one million Canadian men and 75,000 women served in our 3 military branches, with about 900,00 of them serving out side of Canada. Approximately 45,000 were killed, and 127,000 were wounded. Canadians are buried in 31 Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial grounds in 19 countries. JimB.
Click to expand...
My father and three of his brothers all saw active service in WWII. Dad served in New Guinea and his youngest brother was in the RAAF when the Japanese attacked Darwin. His two older brothers died. One was in Malaya when the Japanese swept down the peninsula heading for Singapore and the other, who was serving in the RAF died when his plane was hit by lightning over Nigeria.

Hubby and I have been very interested in Australian military history and have made a point of visiting Imperial War cemeteries when travelling overseas. We've been to Gallipoli, Singapore and PNG and have taken time to walk around and read the headstones. The saddest ones say, "Known only unto God".

If I had a bucket list, one of the items in the bucket would be to visit Villers-Bretonneux in France to walk among the graves and to see the school that was built with money collected by Australian school children.
 
A visit to Normandy is one of the spots remaining on my bucket list. On this the 80th anniversary of D-Day I was very surprised even a somewhat disgusted that there was no form of recognition at the VA center where I volunteer. There was however a an event recognizing Pride month which didn't seem to correlate at all. Maybe I'm letting my curmudgeon side show.
 
TennVet said:
A visit to Normandy is one of the spots remaining on my bucket list. On this the 80th anniversary of D-Day I was very surprised even a somewhat disgusted that there was no form of recognition at the VA center where I volunteer. There was however a an event recognizing Pride month which didn't seem to correlate at all. Maybe I'm letting my curmudgeon side show.
Click to expand...
When the lessons of history are forgot, history tends to repeat.
 
Warrigal said:
When the lessons of history are forgot, history tends to repeat.
Click to expand...
Sadly our classroom curriculum is lacking accurate historical information in favor agenda driven classes. I have had the pleasure of meeting and learning from a number of World War ll veterans. I was surprised and pleased when the young persons in our family last Thanksgiving asked me questions about my Vietnam combat experiences. None of it of a morbid nature, but truly showing interest about the events of those times from my perspective. Made me feel that there are young persons who are hungry to know about our country's history.
 
hollydolly said:
My mum was Scottish and as little children they were sent from the city where she lived in an orphanage, out to farms in the country for the duration of the war ! Not sure how far into the war this happened but I know she was sent to live on a farm.. she was 11 when war finished
Click to expand...
Wow. That's a tough childhood.
 
jimintoronto said:
Here in Canada, the Remembrance services at JUNO Beach today were carried live on CTV. JUNO was the Canadian landing beach on June the 6th of 1944. Our Prime Minister , Prince William and the French Prime Minister were the three main speakers. Price William went out of his way to stop and speak with the 13 Canadian WW2 veterans who attended the services. The oldest is 104 years old.

Most people today don't know that there were a large number of Canadians fighting the Nazis in Italy, a year and half before the June 1944 invasion of France, They called themselves " The D Day Dodgers" because the press didn't cover their invasion in July of 1943 very much, and they continued to slug it out with the Nazis until January of 1945. Then they were moved to North West Europe, to continue to fight through Belgium, Holland and eventually into Germany. By the end of the war in Europe, those guys had a total of 22 months of fighting, while the D Day guys only had 11 months of action.

During WW2 over one million Canadian men and 75,000 women served in our 3 military branches, with about 900,00 of them serving out side of Canada. Approximately 45,000 were killed, and 127,000 were wounded. Canadians are buried in 31 Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial grounds in 19 countries. JimB.
Click to expand...
When I have watched WWII documentaries I have heard mention of the Canadians.
 
The media here in Canada always has a lot of coverage on D-Day events going on around the country and over in France as well. I'm glad they do this as it makes us all focus, even though briefly, on all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. It must have been just horrendous getting off those boats and onto the beach where hundreds of bodies lay while gunfire rained down on you at the same time. I can't imagine the fear those young soldiers must have experienced.
 
My Dad was taken out of school around the 3rd grade or so and put to work in what was called a drift mine. That work was hard, lying on your stomach digging coal. His earning were confiscated by a father who invested much of it cheap whiskey. He got past all that and worked hard all his life, but it resulted in some very harsh personality traits. As the youngest of 6 children I saw a milder form of that than my older siblings, but I learned from the older ones and found a path that I feel was better for my children, in great part due to marrying a woman with great patience.
 
I'm certain some of the things we see today will just be photo ops but I'm equally certain that the words of those veterans who crossed the beaches on D-Day and are able to tell about it still will honored and respected for their service.
 
MrPants said:
The media here in Canada always has a lot of coverage on D-Day events going on around the country and over in France as well. I'm glad they do this as it makes us all focus, even though briefly, on all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. It must have been just horrendous getting off those boats and onto the beach where hundreds of bodies lay while gunfire rained down on you at the same time. I can't imagine the fear those young soldiers must have experienced.
Click to expand...
This is probably the last time we'll see or hear from anyone who fought in WW2... there will soon be no-one left alive from those days..
 
TennVet said:
I told my kids about walking to school uphill both ways. They needed to appreciate their lack of hardship.
Click to expand...
yep same here... 2 miles to and from school every day.. 4 times a day... walked home for lunch 90 % of the time.. odd occasion my mum would pay for school lunches but mostly not.. and we'd walk 2 miles home just to have a small bowl of chicken noodle soup and a banana.. and then walk back again fast... it was no wonder all of us were skinny little runts..
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top