D Day 80th anniversary.

[Beebo]

Some very solemn events are taking place. And probably the last time the surviving veterans will attend.

My thoughts go to those young folk on both sides who were fighting a war they didn’t start or understand. They were just normal people doing what they were told to do.

This is my grandpa, aged 21. He died aged 94.

View attachment 733181

He was a Lieutenant Corporal in the Royal Army Service Corps and was involved in the second wave of D Day landings. Pushing his motorbike up Gold beach.

He was a despatch rider for Lieutenant General, Sir Brian Horrocks and mentioned in Despatches for distinguished service at the battle for Arnhem when he crossed no man’s land and came face to face with a German tank, but escaped on his bike and delivered his messages to the front line.

He was also one of the first liberators into Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp, Poland, where he saw terrible things.

 

[Dave7]

Been listening to it on the radio and TV....very moving.

 

[presta]

It's hard to imagine what it must have been like running into a hail of bullets with people dropping like flies all around you.

 

[Mrs M]

Soldier in our dog park today

 

[numbnuts]

Very brave lads RIP

 

[dicko]

Lest we Forget 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
My father, A Dixon, sent to Dallas Texas to learn to fly at No1 British Flight Training School, Terrell Tx. My wife and I visited the Airfield he trained at in 2018 we were guests of honour.
He was a lucky one on D day.

 

[Sharky]

They were all very brave.

Still to come, the 80th anniversary of Arnhem. My wife's uncle sadly died there after being parachuted in.

 

[13 rider]

Been to visit a previously unknown relatives ,Grandads cousin ( found by sister doing research) grave today . He was badly injured on the 2nd day after D Day ,Survived for a few years after but ultimately died from his injuries , Nice to the local churchyard nice kept and there was fresh flowers on the grave

 

[Debade]

We were fortunate to attend the 75th anniversary while biking through Europe. An amazing event and the people from Europe continue to show their appreciation. They thanked my wife and I as if we had been there.

My Dad served in the Canadian army arriving in Aldershot and then moving to other places in UK. DW Dad was in Africa. All of the museums and events in Normandy are worth seeing. I was glad to see the Canadian one.

An amazing sacrifice people made for all of us. I could not be more grateful.

 

[Drago]

My lot, then known as the Rifle Brigade, were there in the guise of 1RB and 8RB. I'm proud to have worn their badge, and humbled to think what those brave fellows went through.

 

[Chromatic]

One of my grandfathers never fought in the war, I've been told he wasn't fit enough to fight but he did work in a munitions factory as well as his day job, he died in the 1950's when he was in his 40s and before I was born. The other was captured by the Japanese and survived the war, and that's about as much I know about him, I never met him; he died when I was in my 20s.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

My Dad was involved in D-Day and Arnhem
He was Ground Crew for Bomber Command - and Armourer so incharge of anything that goes bang - guns, bullets, bombs and all that
The job was extended to include the equipment for towing gliders and all that if I understood properly (he didn;t talk about it much)

He said he was involved but not how - but he did mention the heavy gliders taking off from one airfield with a very long runway
They needed that because the power in the engines was not enough to get airborn towing the biggest gliders fully loaded
In fact the only reason the got airborn at all was a steep drop at the end of the runway.
The Ground Crew would watch it trundle down the runway accelerating VERY slowly and reach the end of the runway
Then dissappear

MOST of them re-appeared a minute or so later slowly climbing

Balls of Steel those pilots


He didn;t make the end of the war as he managed to have one of the safest jobs in the RAF and still got injured - a bomb casing (the back bit with the fins) dropped on his head and broke his back.
He got out of hospital in 1947
My Mum asked at one point if he had any medals - sho though they would make a nice display in a frame with velvet background

One of the only occaisions he said NO to her and she knew that was that and stopped

He explained ot me - some time later - that an Air Vice Marshall came to the ward in 1945/6 to present the medals with a jingoistic speech about how brave they were and how their country was proud of them and they should be proud of their part in the war

this is to a ward of patients with spinal injuries - mist of who would never walk again
some would never sit again
from all the services and all the ranks

My Dad instructed the Air Vice Marshall exactly what he could do with his medals in precise anatomical detail - including the pins

The office was ushered out by the medical staff while saying something about a Court Marshall to shouts saying "we are ina hospital bed for the rest of our lives - how can you punish us you xxxxxxx (I will leave Drago to suggest the xxxxxxx bit - it probably needs a military mind!!!)

I found out I could claim them in his name
but I won't



sorry - bit tearful today - needed to say something

 

[Tail End Charlie]

I was out recently and came across these in a village. I think it's great that some places to to a lot of effort to commemorate events like this. Long may it continue.

 

[Andy in Germany]

One of my grandfathers never fought in the war, I've been told he wasn't fit enough to fight but he did work in a munitions factory as well as his day job, he died in the 1950's when he was in his 40s and before I was born. The other was captured by the Japanese and survived the war, that's about as much I know about him.

My grandad was on the railways, working in the middle of the West Midlands marshalling yards surrounded by trains full of coal, ammunition, and beyond that factories making aircraft, ammunition et, c. It must have felt like being in the middle of the world's biggest bullseye.

My other grandad was in the RAF police in Orkney; we know he had pacifist tendencies, so we think that was a compromise between doing what he could, but as a noncombatant.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

My Mum's Dad was in WW1 - but was in the Police so was working 12 hours shifts the whole of WW2 - while looking after 3 kids as a single parent

He was also an Air Raid Warden

I think he had a hard time - but it was a small village so the kids always had a neighbour they could go to for food and help
although there do seem to be some tales about haystacks and fences and the massive US munitions/vehicle stoarge in the park up the road - which my Mum was NOT ALLOWED NEAR EVER AT ALL
funnily enough she knew a lot about it

(nothing dodgy - just not exactly stuff he Dad should know about!!!!)

My Grandad was busy as a traveller selling salt and stuff to small shops all over Wales - which was a protected job and he was allowed car as the local people needed to be kept supplied
and he was in the LDV
(according to my Dad - Look, Duck and Vanish - according to the records it was the Home Guard)


apparently my Dad was home one time on leave and his Dad came back witrh a car boot full of coal sacks - coal was rationed
so some neighbour reported them to the authorities and having acquired Black Market coal - a serious offence

They were led into the back garden and shown a pile of coal sacks - clear evidence of guilt
until they were opened and found to be full of manure for the garden!!