06 Jun 2026 15:54:25
My wife and I visited the Normandy Beaches and the cemeteries! If you ever want to see the results of today back then, do the visit! It will bring tears ti your eyes, when you see so many white headstones.
RIP to the fallen.
Thank you to those still around, so brave.

1.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 16:53:09
I'm sure, mate.
I met a guy who was visiting a Cemetery near Normandy.
He said there's a school that has a designated pupil for each headstone, they look after it for a year, and another pupil takes over the responsibility.
Brilliant idea.

2.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 17:42:07
Sorry lads, I regret to inform you, that the Germany World Cup Kit looks brilliant.
???

3.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 17:44:31
Yes, I heard that about the school! I put forward a suggestion to the government 20 years ago that, on Remembrance Day, a child could stand in for a fallen soldier at school and read about the man or woman, so as to remember them.

It didn't happen, but as a veteran, I remember them.

4.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 19:06:22
We salute you, sir!!!. ?

5.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 20:16:29
Keeff, my family and I visited Normandy a few years back and, like you, I was moved and very impressed by what you describe, particularly how immaculately kept the graves were.
I don't know if you saw the remains of the floating Mulberry Harbour just off the beach. It epitomises the "can do" attitude of that time from Churchil down to the youngest private. No port no problem. We 'll just tow one with us. With a full underwater fuel pipeline ( PLUTO ( pipe line under the Ocean) up and running from the Isle of Wight within a few weeks of the landing. A British invention, all of it.Now, with all our advanced technology we can't even build a railway from London to Leeds
Those men ( and women) were like mythical giants then, scarcely imaginable to our present enfeebled generation and society.
We visited Pegasus Bridge too. Six gliders ( apart from basic instrumentation, entirely made of wood) carrying 30 glider troops each from the Oxfords and Bucks, trained and led by Major John Howard ( in civilian life a Police Inspector from Oxford City Force).
The closest glider ( navigated at night, by the light of the moon, following the canals, no engine, no radar, no way home) landed less than the width of a football pitch from one heavily defended end of the bridge.

Piloted by an ex salesman Sgt Jim Wallwork from Salford.He went on to do perform similar miracles in every subsequent British glider operation in the War and lived to a ripe old age as did Howard. The position of the glider is still marked in outline. The bridge ( and the next one) were captured with few casualties in ten minutes ( and held for three days under heavy counter attack until the Paras arrived. You could throw a stone from where it landed to the German gun emplacement. German survivors said they heard a heavy thud and foliage snapping then within 2 minutes they were prisoners ( or dead).
Cafe Gondee is still there at the end of the bridge and ( when I went) still owned by the same family. The first premises in occupied Europe to be liberated.
The original bridge is in a field nearby, still marked by gunfire damage. As is ( or was) a reconstructed glider.
As I say, ordinary people doing extraordinary things, courage and ingenuity beyond belief. As Churchill said " Our finest hour".

6.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 21:23:39
Brilliant mate, just brilliant.

7.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 23:15:38
Great post, Stokey. ?

8.) 07 Jun 2026
07 Jun 2026 10:00:21
Yes, Stokey, great post, mate! We did the full tour, taking in the Pont du Hoc, where the huge gun casements are. Plus, the lookout post that is still in one piece. We went up to Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where the paratrooper landed on the church spire.

They have a dummy hanging there now.
We walked along Omaha Beach, looking at the gun positions, and my Mrs found a pound coin on the beach. ?

9.) 07 Jun 2026
07 Jun 2026 16:14:58
Excellent Keefe, mate! ?