D Day
Join Date: May 2002
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A very emotional interview on one of the excellent recent BBC documentaries, nearly brought me to tears. A RN landing craft helmsman relating how he landed a unit of Americans onto the Omaha beach. Every GI in the group was killed.
The RN guy was also at Dieppe and had a similarly awful experience.
The RN guy was also at Dieppe and had a similarly awful experience.
But no medals for whoever arranged the events this afternoon, when a row of veterans were kept waiting in the heat while an interminable succession of "VIPs" arrived and were shown to their seats. On this day of all days the VIPs were already there, wearing their medals, and it was disrespectful for them to have to wait while heads of state and their representatives, none of whom (with one notable exception) were even alive in 1944, arrived one by one at long intervals. At one stage we were told that the event was running 25 minutes behind schedule - I bet HM was unimpressed!
No medals either to the BBC pair trying to fill in while all this was going on. As the camera panned slowly along the row of veterans they were obviously ignorant of what they were looking at, and weren't even able to point out the nationalities of those on camera, obvious to anyone with a bit of knowledge of capbadges and medals.
But then - thats the Beeb - why am I not surprised?
No medals either to the BBC pair trying to fill in while all this was going on. As the camera panned slowly along the row of veterans they were obviously ignorant of what they were looking at, and weren't even able to point out the nationalities of those on camera, obvious to anyone with a bit of knowledge of capbadges and medals.
But then - thats the Beeb - why am I not surprised?
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Very moving coverage on TV. Interesting to see Polish and Dutch Army contingents, though not picked up by the commentators.
Can't help feeling the organisers missed a trick. A combined fly past with smoke along the whole of the invasion beaches by the PDF and Reds would have made a mighty impressive spectacle, and they weren't doing anything else.
Can't help feeling the organisers missed a trick. A combined fly past with smoke along the whole of the invasion beaches by the PDF and Reds would have made a mighty impressive spectacle, and they weren't doing anything else.
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Two Civvie Para's on the D-Day Jumps.
Hollywood's D-Day Tributes Forget Invasion's U.S. Civilian Hero
Hollywood's D-Day Tributes Forget Invasion's U.S. Civilian Hero
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Dick Allen, that's a superb model and you should all be proud of it.
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Nice to see the air cadets there on the news.
Police say an 89-year-old British D-Day veteran who went missing after being told by care home staff that he could not attend the anniversary commemorations has been found - in Normandy.
Video: D-Day veteran Jock Hutton parachutes into Normandy once again at the age of 89 - Mirror Online
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Trim ...
I believe it was this gentlemen
Well done that man
BBC News - D-Day: Hove veteran disappears for Normandy trip
I believe it was this gentlemen
Well done that man
BBC News - D-Day: Hove veteran disappears for Normandy trip
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Well done the old boy! Effin nanny state, probably wanted him to wear a hard hat/yellow vest/safety specs! **** the lot of them old mate, go out of this world with flames shooting out your ar$e!
HB
HB
Yes, he looks the likely mischievous "culprit"!Join Date: Sep 2008
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Wander00 - not forgetting that the only VC awarded for D-Day action was won by CSM Stanley Hollis, who had joined 4th Bn Green Howards as a TA soldier in 1939.
Money in place for Middlesbrough D-Day Victoria Cross hero's statue - Gazette Live
Bernard Jordan, at 89 showing all the pluck and determination he needed all those years ago. It's a great story this one, and might hopefully, make these care home staff take more notice and have more respect for their charges, who often have a better appreciation of life than they ever will. I salute this man, for making his great escape today, I hope he had a great day.
Smudge
Smudge
Noticed that at the Arromanches ceremony there was a UK policeman carrying a flag/standard. Anyone know who/what he was representing?
Last edited by muppetofthenorth; 6th Jun 2014 at 20:21. Reason: Me speaka English no good
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After the debacle that was the Jubilee, I think the Beeb did a sterling job this time. Well done to them.
As far as the shows were concerned, all excellent but I think the vets were kept too long in the sun for the main event. As one of them might have said 'The last time we were here, we managed to get off the beach a damned sight quicker...'
As far as the shows were concerned, all excellent but I think the vets were kept too long in the sun for the main event. As one of them might have said 'The last time we were here, we managed to get off the beach a damned sight quicker...'
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I think the coverage of this D-Day anniversary has been excellent
and good to see most of the leaders waving the flag.
That story of the Veteran who snuck off to Normady made my day
Noticed Prince Phillip got a bit emotional on one of the stands.
and good to see most of the leaders waving the flag.
That story of the Veteran who snuck off to Normady made my day
Noticed Prince Phillip got a bit emotional on one of the stands.