In an effort to bring together information on events that are happening in Normandy for the 70th Anniversary in 2014 I have the following now online: D-Day 70 website: www.dday70.co.uk D-Day 70 Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/D_Day70 D-Day 70 Blog: www.dday70.wordpress.com If you have information on events to share please let me know.
D-day + 70, Funny but I just don't feel interested in this one at the moment. Maybe i'm depressed about losing my father earlier this year. Also being told my booking which I made in 2011 could not be honored and the Hotel which we have used for many years have asked for 270 euros per night bed only. Chances are it will be difficult to get about, hard to park and full of thieves and rip of merchants. Seems some people wish to make this a circus event. I can remember walking round Bayeux cemetery with my dear father fighting back the tears and a British Legion coach taking widows to spend one hour a year with there late husbands. In 2009 Veterans were left holding standards for to long in the heat. One collapsed and I believe passed away. Later in the day Veterans sat in the rain because they had to wait for Gordon Brown. The police tried to stop me taking my father to shelter from the rain. I feel this event is about our Veterans paying there respects and maybe a few sorry's. But what ever I hope they can do this with ease in 2014.
Rip off merchants? How very French. Disgraceful (but unsurprising, it has happened to us) how a booking can be gazumped. I concur from 2009 - as my uncle was there. The locals (especially the French servicemen) treated them like royalty. It went ragged when Gordon Brown appeared.
It went ragged long before Gordon Brown and was largely down to he inability of the locals organising the events in Bayeux and Arromanches laying on facilities for the veterans. No shelter for veterans at Arromanches, only the press. No chairs for veterans except those I 'confiscated' with the aid of a platoon of Army Cadets. Do blame, but blame the right people. As for 2014, yes it will be busy, yes it will be tough to move around but people want to be there on that day and will get from it what they wish. It isn't all about attending ceremonies, for some, especially the veterans, it's just about being there, probably for one last time.
Paul, Thanks for the updates on 2014 events, I will be there with a party from our local Legion. Are there any plans for 'official visitor' badges or passes as happened for the 50th anniversary?
Paul, My disgust is the likes of Hoteliers that almost treble the cost of a room when you have been faithful to them for years, very short sighted. Veterans are not circus animals they do not go there to perform. I feel that some are using them to prosper which in turn is causing problems to Veterans and family. I certainly can not speak for Veterans but cannot believe a British Veteran would travel to Normandy for the 6th of June and not attend one of the Commemoration's. As for maybe the last one. I should hope not, as a NVA associate member at our branch we hope to continue long after 2014 with what ever name is chosen after the association lay down there standards. I most certainly don't wish to offend anyone just to talk as freely as I think !!!!!!!! Best Wishes for all who attend the 2014 Anniversary. I will decide nearer the time when I shall lay a wreath for my father and the Desert Rats memorial association it could be the 30th of May or the 30th of June I don't need a audience.
Paul excellent work - I hope this unlike many other items I see can be expanded to cover the whole of the battle for Normand rather than the narrow approach normally afforded which concentrate solely on the first day of the invasion. I am sure members have information and detail to share well beyond D Day itself. I look forward to following progress. Thank you Brian
As a footnote to this important thread, it may come as a surprise to some to learn that the massive operation of D-Day on June 6th 1944 appeared to have been treated with scant respect by those of of us who at the time in question were fighting in Italy. In the Regimental Diaries of the 49th Light Ack Ack there was certainly no mention of the day's events in Normandy although I suppose that as this was not connected to the Regiments activities in any way, this itself was not surprising. I also wasn't able to find any reference to the day in my personal diaries. Ron .
Ron, you are of course preaching to the converted and I shall be in Italy next year at the time of the Cassino anniversaries etc but if I spent time, and my money, putting together an Italy70 website the reality is few would use it, and there are no major events planned for me to publicise. The Italian campaign will always be the poor relation in terms of 1944 both to the media and public at large but of course not to those of us with a connection to it or those who have the slightest knowledge of the 'tough old gut'.
Paul As I posted, I realise I had failed to compliment you on the excellent D Day +70 sites that you set up so I am glad of the opportunity to remedy the omission. No one, starting with myself, could ever underestimate the importance of D Day but, once it had taken place, the campaign in Italy became yesterday's news and relegated to the back page of ww2 history. I envy you your proposed visit to Cassino next year and thank you for your continued and long standing support of the D Day Dodgers. Ron
Has anyone heard if a 70th commemorative badge may be awarded to surviving veterans of the Normandy campaign, please? For the 65th anniversary a badge (bar) was awarded to eligible veterans. I have been wondering if one was going to be awarded to survivors for the 70th anniversary. Because official NVA branches have now disbanded it would make the process of identifying those eligible more difficult if there are any being awarded. For the 65th anniversary the NVA branch in my home area had disbanded the previous year and it took little time for the surviving veterans to get the award to which they were entitled.
Communes of Montchamp & St Charles De Percy 70th Anniversary Events. My Father 2657980 Gdsmn David Blyth 1st (Armoured) Battalion Coldstream Guards was KIA at La Marvindiere 4th August 1944. One of a Coldtream crewed Sherman knocked out whilst attached to 2nd (Armoured) Battalion Irish Guards.Tank was commanded by Lt John Keatinge Irish Guards.Lt Keatinge is buried at St Charles De Percy,Gdsmn Wyatt At Bayeaux.The other three members of the crew have no known grave. I would be delighted to hear from any Veteran of these two Battalions or Forward/Tank Delivery Squadron.
