D Day 6th June 1944

[User removed 4]

Buahy, what most people aren't aware of is the fact that there was a special screening just for D-day veterans months before the film was released. After the very short scene, Spielberg saw how upset the British and Canadian veterans were about the scene and promised to delete it. Somehow that scene still made it into the film.
I couldn't care less that the film makes no reference to the British and Canadian efforts that day, afterall it's an American film about American soldiers...that's fine by me. What upsets me is the fact it's upset our veterans for no reason whatsoever. Can you imagine the uproar if we produced a film about D-day and then had a go about the American commanders' decisions?
I've been to Omaha beach at low tide and let me tell you what the American soldiers did that day was nothing short of a miracle.

Just to let you know, I had the honour last year of laying a wreath at the American cemetery you see in the film.

Fair enough mate, thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Having recently been on a Battlefield Tour of Normandy, they reckon that less than 2,000 soldiers were killed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Whilst it was a terrible sacrifice, SPR exagerates the carnage substantially. For a comparison approx 4,000 soldiers were killed taking Caen.

Not sure you can really compare the 2, The battle for Caen was over a period of weeks with some 11 infantry divisions, tank divisions etc. whereas on Omaha you lost most of those troops in the first couple of hours.

 

[User removed 4]

Having recently been on a Battlefield Tour of Normandy, they reckon that less than 2,000 soldiers were killed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Whilst it was a terrible sacrifice, SPR exagerates the carnage substantially. For a comparison approx 4,000 soldiers were killed taking Caen.

Yet again, dont want to start a binfest, but really dont think this is the thread for a pissing contest on who had the most people killed, I suspect it took much longer than a day to take caen.

 

[moggy]

Wasn't it Omaha beach where that Scottish guy in a kilt, walked up and down the beach playing the bag-pipes?
Imagine that! in amongst all the shelling,bullets and carnage, a lone piper parades the shoreline piping the soldiers ashore and into battle

 

[glasfryn]

truly a day that sticks in my mind, brave men giving their all so we can have a free life
its also that day in 1983 my Mum died

 

[The Hon Sec]

Would have thought that the piper would have been parading up and down on a British beach ! Probably thinking of Lord Lovat's piper who led his commando force off the beach and on towards Pegasus Bridge.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

I have the deepest respect for those that took part in the D-day landings. We owe it to them to ensure their efforts are not forgotten.

Someone mentioned the Imperial War Museum in Southwark which I agree is well worth a visit but does get horrendously busy. I would also strongly recommend their counterpart at just off the M11 at Duxford which is a great day out. So much to see - many famous British and foreign planes (eg Concorde, TSR2, B52, current Tornado & Typhoon) and good informative and interactive stuff for kids too. Those that appreciate their airborne military history (not just WW2) should look out for the area dedicated to the Paras - which has the history of their major actions. Plus the success of capturing Pegasus bridge the night before D-Day that enabled the break out from the beaches towards Caen. There is also the fabulous display of US planes. The glass screen that surrounds the building has silouettes of all US aircraft lost in WW2, the scale of which really brings home the losses incurred.

 

[moggy]

Would have thought that the piper would have been parading up and down on a British beach ! Probably thinking of Lord Lovat's piper who led his commando force off the beach and on towards Pegasus Bridge.

You're wrong!
So am I , it was sword beach

Legendary D-Day piper Bill Millin dies | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

[The Hon Sec]

The obit tells us he was Lord Lovatt's Piper and he was on the british sword beach. Lovatt was a commando officer who, amongst other tasks, was to relieve the force holding Pegasus Bridge. This action forms part of the film, 'The Longest Day' when the defenders supposedly could hear the piper leading the relieving force.

 

[cunning fergus]

We must never forget the brave men who fought on this day from many nations for our freedom. There would maybe be no BHAFC history let alone the much , much broader history of our country. Remember them. This was no XBOX or playstation game.


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I agree, its critical we never forget the efforts of all those brave men.

Without the fortitude of that generation we would now be living in a country where a cabal of unelected Europeans would be dictating how we run our own affairs, like having to give convicted prisoners voting, or who we can or cant deport from our own country!

Those fascist types were so fanatical I bet by now they would even be telling us what light kind of bulbs we had to have.

 

[keaton]

The Longest Day is far better than Saving Private Ryan

 

[Dave the OAP]

I know this thread is not about today, but did anyone else hear that Help for Hero's has so far raised £100 million!!!

 

[portlock seagull]

Don't agree with the criticism Surrey Seagull makes. The same veterans he quotes also said it was the most realistic landing scenes imaginable. That's why it made such an impact. After the first 20mins the film could be another WW2 action film. It's the opening that really distinguishes it and is the most memorable part for most viewes

Anyway, share the sentiments, have been fortuate to talk to a veteran or two in my time. The greatest generation.

 

[portlock seagull]

Those fascist types were so fanatical I bet by now they would even be telling us what light kind of bulbs we had to have.

And what bins to put out on what days. Ow, hang on a sec...

 

[Danny-Boy]

Have to say I am reading a book about POW's (of whom my father was one, captured at Tobruk). D-Day was a fantastic morale boost for them, it really made them believe that their period of captivity would be over soon - generally it was felt by Xmas 1944.

What is clear from this book written by that bloke who was captured in Iraq, and which I had never appreciated, was how better-treated were Allied servicemen who had fought on the ground and been captured, than were shot-down bomber pilots. These were labelled "Terrorflieger" and were sometimes lucky to escape lynching.

My father's war diary graphically describes what happened when a US bomber crashed nearby his quarters, killing the crew - he was not in a camp but helping maintain the railways and stationed in a village in East Germany. The Germans refused to provide a funeral and the POW's had to provide an escort themselves and have a service with the German locals jeering etc. Very unpleasant.

 

[rocker959]

And what bins to put out on what days. Ow, hang on a sec...

Yes sadly they won in many ways the end and imho the channel tunnel has not helped either. Those brave men who died will be spinning in their graves as will the survivors for what they sacrificed to be given away so lightly.

 

[Normal Rob]

I agree, its critical we never forget the efforts of all those brave men.

Without the fortitude of that generation we would now be living in a country where a cabal of unelected Europeans would be dictating how we run our own affairs, like having to give convicted prisoners voting, or who we can or cant deport from our own country!

Those fascist types were so fanatical I bet by now they would even be telling us what light kind of bulbs we had to have.

Prick

And what bins to put out on what days. Ow, hang on a sec...

Prick

Yes sadly they won in many ways the end and imho the channel tunnel has not helped either. Those brave men who died will be spinning in their graves as will the survivors for what they sacrificed to be given away so lightly.

Prick.

Post that stuff somewhere appropriate..

 

[Bold Seagull]

I agree, its critical we never forget the efforts of all those brave men.

Without the fortitude of that generation we would now be living in a country where a cabal of unelected Europeans would be dictating how we run our own affairs, like having to give convicted prisoners voting, or who we can or cant deport from our own country!

Those fascist types were so fanatical I bet by now they would even be telling us what light kind of bulbs we had to have.

And what bins to put out on what days. Ow, hang on a sec...

Yes sadly they won in many ways the end and imho the channel tunnel has not helped either. Those brave men who died will be spinning in their graves as will the survivors for what they sacrificed to be given away so lightly.

Let's not turn a respectively thread into a petty political debate please. Normal Rob is quite right.

 

[portlock seagull]

Prick



Prick



Prick.

Post that stuff somewhere appropriate..

Sorry, but haven't you just done what you set out to avoid? What a donut. Still, they fought and died for you two I guess. Not sure some would have wanted to given your lack of respect but hey ho...

 

[cunning fergus]

Prick



Prick



Prick.

Post that stuff somewhere appropriate..

I have. This thread provides a welcome forum for those NSC members who wish to comment about those brave souls who took part in the D-Day landings in 1944.

My comments are evidently about D-Day and the broader political environment that exists 66 years after continental Europe was freed from the Germans.

I was under the impression that the point of these threads was that NSC members provide their own perspective on the thread subject matter, this would usually create further comment and debate amongst other members.

If I thought it was about making random insults, I would have just called you a stupid c**t at the start of this post and had done with it..............you stupid c**t.