Pause for thought...June 5th / 6th 1944

[spanner570]

I've just been listening to the B.B.C. News on Radio 2................

Researchers have found out that trade during the Neolithic period was far more widespread than previously thought.............

Not one mention that around now in 1944, young lads in their thousands were dying on the Normandy beaches fighting for our freedom.

Sometimes I really do get hacked off.

I will, and am thinking of those young men, even if the Beeb's Radio 2 might not think it worth a mention!

Ron

[geegad]

Well Ron all you've got to do is look what is front page news more people are interested in what job sheryl cole has got or what she is wearing than how many people died on this day for our freedom 67

years later

Not one program on BBC1 all day about overlord but plenty of crap LOOSEWOMEN!!!!!

But they have my thoughts and respect

John

[Guest]

So right Ron not a mention any where.

The largest armada in history. 8000 boats & ships with 11,000 aircraft performing 14000 sorties & 800 gliders. A pipeline being laid across the sea for petrol. 2 huge floating harbours. Thousands of machines & transport.

150,000 men the cream of all the allied countries in the first wave followed by hundreds of thousands then millions. Many British & Commonwealth men who had been fighting since 1939 five monstrous years. They were battle weary & worn putting their lives down yet again for another year on the line.

All that as you have said Ron not worth even a mention. Poor show.

Laurie

[Guest]

It really is a shame that they have not made mention of this at all. Their has been nothing said here either but i wouldn't expect it to. I do know of the sacrifice these men and women made to make our world what it is and how it could never be re-payed.

I have heard many stories from my grandparents who all lived in Europe during the war. One side in Holland and the other in Denmark. Although on of my grandfathers does not tell of most things. I do know he was in a German work camp till the end of the war. Clearly extremely lucky to survive.

I know what you mean when you say us young people have no idea what happened. I told some people today about the anniversary and they had no idea what operation overlord was. It is sad that something that massive has basically vanished from common knowledge. As the quote goes "Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." Winston Churchill.

Lest We Forget.

Kresten

[stona]

After 6 months in a coma and 18 months further in an Oxford hospital, he had improved enough to return home.

Thank heaven for that. I bet he was in the Churchill hospital,where I was born. Amazing to think that those war time buildings and "temporary" wards are still being used,at least they were in 2009/10 when I spent far to much time there with my mother.

That is an amazing story. There must be thousands of such stories which are known only to family which we will never hear. It seems a shame to me. A young man of twenty on Gold beach would now be a very old man in his mid nineties,old soldiers do fade away and it won't be long before we won't be able to ask anyone "what did you do in the war?"

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thank heaven for that.

Thank you Steve ... he passed away 2005 aged 84 and was active (riding his motorbike even) untill a few years before.

I bet he was in the Churchill hospital,

Not sure on the name but if this place had like a specialist "head injury" ward (he simply called it the head hospital in Oxford) then it could be.

We've been recently clearing out Mum's house to suit her living requirements no she's a little more infirm and have come across quite a few little boxes with stuff stashed away, medals (burma star, italy star, kings medal etc), lots and lots of photos with pencil "notes on the back" (some of which are tearfull reading), many many letters home on those "delete the inapplicable" type cards, there was a cushion that he embriodered to help get his brain, fingers etc in tune again, some rank insignias (one is of four chevrons on a green base (3inches long, 1.5 wide) ??? can't find it on t'interweb .. maybe someone here will know?), there's training rounds, tracer rounds (have a firearms cert so i can cover those:cheesygrin, there's even a little alloy type metal tube with a little glass bottle in it that contained ... well you know ... just in case you got caught :sad: .

Interesting and emmotional at the same time to go through them all, i have to get myself all braved up and macho to do it sometimes.

[Guest]

Emailed Channel Island ITV daring them not to mention it tonight on the news.

Given them lots of facts so if they do an article at least they get some of it right.

I wonder will they be alive to it ?

Laurie

[stona]

Interesting and emotional at the same time to go through them all, i have to get myself all braved up and macho to do it sometimes.

I know exactly what you mean. I found other quandaries too after my mother passed away. I found a box containing years of her diaries and letters to/from my father. I still don't know whether I should read them. I certainly wouldn't have when she was alive! It feels like I would be invading her privacy and I might keep them,unread,for my daughters to have. They are slightly further removed if you know what I mean.

Regarding "Overlord" we should also not forget the tens of thousands of French civilian casualties. Liberation came at a high cost for them too. Unlike to the sort of morons who daub "Remove your rubbish from our soil" (my translation) on allied war graves most French people do remember the sacrifices made on their behalf by the allies.

Well done Laurie but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Now how about that ?

Yes we can. I hope we'll make you happy. Please watch tonight's news.



Eric.

>>> CtvNews 06/06/11 12:07 >>>



>>> "Laurie Stewart" 06/06/2011 10:41 >>>

Dear editor

One of the momentous events in the history of the world took place on this day in 1944 & which had a defining moment in our lives then & now.

To date I have not heard of one mention of this on any news in Britain. The Allied Normandy Landings.

What about a mention tonight on your news ?

Some of the events that happened.

150,000 men followed quickly by hundreds of thousands & then millions.

8000 boats & ships. 11,000 aircraft (14000 sorties on the day) , 800 gliders. Thousands of pieces of machinery & transport pieces.

A petrol pipeline for England to Normandy being laid.

2 floating harbours being floated across the channel into position.

Many British & Commonwealth men returned to France from the capitulation in 1940. They were battle weary & worn after 5 continuous years of fighting to return to France for yet another year of fighting & put their lives once again on the line.

The hope of those in the Channel Isles hearing this news & expecting liberation in short but having to wait another 11 months for that day of expectation.

Visited the Bayeux Cemetery where there is a so English garden guarding all the British & Commonwealth men who lost their lives with row upon row of crosses. Sergeants of 19, Lieutenants of 21, Captains of 24. The cream of the young men.

Not a mention anywhere. Can you do it ?

Laurie Stewart

[Centurion3RTR]

Just found this that i think you'll like.

BBC News Player - 1944: Troops storm beaches on D-Day

[Guest]

Met a Normandy Veteran last week, he said he landed on D-Day 6th June and was with 5 RHA 7th Armoured in a Cromwell. He was such an unassuming gent that you would not have known unless asked. He did go onto say he was at Villers Bocage when Witmann rolled in and said that we(meaning the allies) got a pasting. On a lighter note he also said that Witmann stopped his tank winked and smiled at his mate told him to get out of the vehicle then blew it up! My hat goes off to these and many others like him who put themselves out for what we know today!

[Guest]

Yes take your hat off to them.

I mentioned above asking our Jersey ITV to make mention of D day & they said they would.

Spoofed me as they already had it in hand & good for them. They filmed about 25 to 30 old Jersey soldiers sailors & airmen from the second world war. All with their banners all very neatly dressed paying homage at the Jersey Cenotaph this morning to those who had gone before them. There were also a good number of young in the crowd watching this ceremony.

Laurie

[Guest]

Didn't anyone else watch this series?

BBC iPlayer - D-Day to Berlin: The Struggle to Break Out