NORMANDY 2011
and so the gallant very small group once again travelled to Normandy to commemorate the 67th anniversary of D-Day (6th June 1944) there were just two D-Day veterans with us this time, Trooper Jim Smith of the Westminster Dragoons, who landed on D-Day itself at 7.35am in a Sherman Flail Tank and Charlie Francis who was a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps. Charlie was part of the division that had just days to build a by-pass around the bombed out city of Caen so supplies building up on the D-Day beaches could follow through supplying the advancing armies heading through France towards Holland, Belgium and more. Charlie did in fact finish up in Berlin as part of the occupation army. Both veterans were mobbed by the crowds in St Mere Eglise on June 5th and were special guests of the Mayor there for lunch. Once again we proudly took part in ceremonies and wreath layings in Omaha Cemetery and Bayeax Cemetery where Charlie laid a wreath. We also laid a wreath at the grave of 16 year old Jack Banks in Jerusalem Cemetery.
Jim Smith was once again honoured by the Mayor of Ver su Mere and curator of the Gold Beach Museum. We all took part in a memorial parade in Ver su Mere where Jim laid a wreath at the memorial.
All in all a most memorable and moving experience but sad to see the deminishing numbers of actual D-Day veterans able to attend anymore. Several who we knew from previous years were now in wheelchairs as was our own Jim Smith. But they all talk about perhaps next year and even the 70th anniversary in another 3 years time! making them a minimum of 91 to 92 years old by then. Who said old soldiers never die, they just simply fade away. So we can only wait and see.
God Bless them All!