D Day Remembrance.

[Russ]

Today marks the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, where countries from all over the world sent troops to fight for there country. I was speaking to an ex wireless operator from a Lancaster (used the radio on a big plane ) the other week, he was the only Englishman on the plane, the rest were from... AUSTRALIA! What a journey that must have been, who flew on 31 succesfull missions (thats a lot more than you were supposed to do) including trips to Belin and Stutgart several nights in a row over 3-4 months. Although this is not actually to do with D-Day. He said something which i find very admiralable in this day and age. We were talking about how he felt about Germans now, and he said it upset him to see his fellow country men, in the present day, still insulting Germany and Germans for what they had done, he has no bad feelings towards Germany at all. Now this country were trying to shoot him out the sky, but he said that they were just doing there job as he was his...

I've lost the point of this thread a little bit, but i can think of a famous verse to end it.. to all nations that fought in the war..

They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

[shiato storm]

well said. my gran's bro. fought in the landings, for the scot's guard who i believe were aiming for pegasus bridge, saddly he was killed. so many were lost on both sides of the terrible conflict. no words could ever amount to describing the fear, the saddness and the relief of people 60yrs ago. we truely owe them so much for our freedom today, and as the sun shines down on us today, they will be remembered...

[Rob]

I think it is too easy for later generations, who are caught up in this modern society of greed and self, to forget what these men and women fought for. You and I!

I shall always remember them... And I do my level best to pass this down to future generations as those brave men and women will not be around to remind us for much longer.

[Stewart]

As everyone but the terminally ignorant knows, today, the country remembers the sacrifices of the British, American, Canadian and other nationality troops, who gave their lives, storming the beaches on D-Day, for our continued freedom.

If anyone has anything they'd like to say, a few comments on the day itself, or just to pay your respects to those who died fighting for their country, then this is the place to do it.

As its been a fine day, I've been sitting quietly in the back garden, sipping a drink in the sun. It was very humbling, listening to the stories of the veterans on the radio, telling of their experiences on the day itself, and the bravery they showed, charging headlong into the jaws of almost certain death.

Many of them didn't come back, and died on a foreign beach, far from their friends and family, so that I could sit in my garden today, free.

Make sure you remember them today.

EDIT - Noticed Russ already had a thread, so I've merged the two. Keep everything in one place.

[Steve]

My dad's parnter's father was in WWII. In fact, he has gone to Normandy this year.

He's in his 80's now, but is still pretty fit for an 80 year old. He's quite short - I dwarf him as I am quite tall. Yet, 60 years on, you can tell he was in the military. His voice is still extremely authoritive - he's somebody you listen to!

It's a humbling experience to know somebody who fought in WWII. It is also admirable and amazing that he is still able to go to Normandy to remember the friends he fought with who weren't as lucky as he was. I can't imagine what it would be like for some of the people stood on that beach. The memories must come flooding back.

I have the upmost respect for him, and also for those who paid the ultimate price to ensure the freedom of our country.

[Howard]

I have the upmost respect for him, and also for those who paid the ultimate price to ensure the freedom of our country.

I agree.

<3 to them

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

It pains me to even think that some people believe that those days are "in the past" and "no longer relevent" in todays society. Some would say that the services carried out today anchor us in the past any tie us to the mistakes of the World Wars.

Some people need a slap - a good one.

Where would we be today if those brave men (and even some kids at 17 and 16 yrs old) hadn't died on the beaches of normandy for the sake of our freedom? Probably still under a Nazi rule and forced into total cooperation to the facist regime.

A few years ago I went on a school trip to the Somme in France. Ok it was in World War I but I just wanted to make a point about the grave sites. If anyone watched the service on TV this morning in Bayeux which the Queen and French President attended you will have noticed that the sites are PERFECT. You will never see a place more carefully looked after and cleaned in the way the cemetarys in France are maintained. If you are ever in France make sure and visit some of these sites and pay your respects. We owe so much to the soldiers that died in those Wars and I count myself as lucky to have been to a few of those sites and signed some of the books of rememberance.

Excellent little verse there Russ.

[shiato storm]

the most humbling thing is the sheer numbers of graves there are, not to mention almost half of which belong to unknown soldiers...

[Stewart]

One of the BBC studio guests on the televised coverage said "Its because of those men dieing on the beaches, that for us, beaches mean only buckets and spades."

I thought that was very well put.

[Pete]

i want to say a very big respectful thanks to all our gradparents, living or dead.
people think of them as mentally diclining idiots, but really they are the best among us, they fought and died in the war to end all wars.
however we are so ungrateful that we are the ones who start wars now and for what? money.
they were fighting for freedom and we jsut compromise their bravery!

i think if i was 17 and preparing to take part in d day it would take me alot of courage indeed to do my job, but they found that courage, many died but hundreds of them are still alive today something we should take advantage of. i am going to teach my kids (when i have them) everything i learnt from my grandparents about d-day so this day is never completly forgotten

alot of my friends have gone over to normandy over this weekend to be at the remembrance, sadly i didnt go as it was 2500 pounds for a weekend trip and ive been there before, its a very thoughful place.

*THANK YOU*

[Pete]

, sadly i didnt go as it was 2500 pounds for a weekend trip and ive been there before, its a very thoughful place.

sorry guys this was meant to say 250 pounds but hexus wont let me edit, hmmm

[Russ]

As everyone but the terminally ignorant knows, today, the country remembers the sacrifices of the British, American, Canadian and other nationality troops, who gave their lives, storming the beaches on D-Day, for our continued freedom.

and the German, Austrian, Hungarian etc..

[Stewart]

Indeed, hense the 'other nationality troops', although obviously, the German troops died defending the beaches, not storming them.

Still, remember them as well, they were following orders, and a lot of good people, bits of kids some of them, 18, 19, died on both sides that day.

[Rob]

When I was a young man I carried my pack
I lived the free life of a rover
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my Matilda all over
But in nineteen fifteen my country said "Son,
It's time to stop rambling for there's work to be done"
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me to the war
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
And we sailed away from the quay
And amid all the tears, flag weaving and cheers
We sailed all for Galipoli

Now, those who were living just tried to survive
In a mad world of blood, death and fire
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
Though around me the corpses plied higher
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head
And when I awoke in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done how I wished I was dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying

For no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda
All around the green bush far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs
No more Waltzing Matilda for me

So now every April I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Renewing the dreams of past glory
I see the old men all tired, stiff and sore
Those poor lonely heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask What are they marching for?
And I ask myself the same question

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
But year after year our number get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all

[M@rco]

I think we should remember solders for both sides to, as most of them were only doing their jobs. My granddad fought for the Italian army in the early years of the war, fortunately he was one of the lucky Italians that made it back to Italy and did not get killed or captured, even though he is dead now I respect the Italian soldiers that fought valiantly and died in Africa as today's society portrays them all as cowards, when they were poorly led and had inferior equipment. I think what the D-Day veterans did was an amazing feat and without them I doubt we would be free like we are now. To me what they accomplished was a colossal feat and they are so modest about what they did, I doubt I would have been able to pluck up the courage to storm onto a beach against almost certain death. God Bless Them All. I have the utmost respect for them all.

[TiG]

I was at the Duxford celebrations along with nearly a dozen other Marlins that fly IL2 FB in the forums here, the 2 minute silence was very poignant for all who was there. I'm so glad I was there and had an excellent time as it enables me to remeber those who fought for us.

for all those who died RIP.

TiG