[News] D Day 80th Year Anniversary

[hart's shirt]

Such a peaceful setting with beautiful weather today really brings home the contrast of what it must've been like 80 years ago.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Christian Lamb WRNS officer aged 104 will receive the Legion d'Honneur medal today. She made the maps of the beaches for the landings.

Christian Lamb made maps to guide the crews landing crafts at Normandy on D-Day

As a young Women's Royal Naval Service officer in World War II, Christian Lamb tried to make sure British troops were in exactly the right place when they scrambled onto Normandy's beaches under enemy fire

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

I can proudly say that by the age of 13 or 14, I knew the D Day story inside out, fascinated by a plethora of films, toys, games, books and official anniversaries beside school teachings, first hand accounts and visits to the battlefields. Alas, the average teen today is unlikely to even be able to place Normandy on a map never mind knowing anything about events. It will therefore soon generally slip from memory and commemoration, and I wouldn’t bet against it somehow falling foul of wokery to hasten its departure from the national conscience.

We WILL remember then ...

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I can proudly say that by the age of 13 or 14, I knew the D Day story inside out, fascinated by a plethora of films, toys, games, books and official anniversaries beside school teachings, first hand accounts and visits to the battlefields. Alas, the average teen today is unlikely to even be able to place Normandy on a map never mind knowing anything about events. It will therefore soon generally slip from memory and commemoration, and I wouldn’t bet against it somehow falling foul of wokery to hasten its departure from the national conscience.

I respectfully disagree. Many teenagers travel more than previous generations and know Europe better than we did.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I can proudly say that by the age of 13 or 14, I knew the D Day story inside out, fascinated by a plethora of films, toys, games, books and official anniversaries beside school teachings, first hand accounts and visits to the battlefields. Alas, the average teen today is unlikely to even be able to place Normandy on a map never mind knowing anything about events. It will therefore soon generally slip from memory and commemoration, and I wouldn’t bet against it somehow falling foul of wokery to hasten its departure from the national conscience.

D-Day is one thing I made sure my lads knew of from an early age, and we visited the beaches & cemeteries in Normandy about 10-15 years ago. Now 18 & 21, they have both asked if they can come to the Newhaven event tonight to pay their respects. My eldest spent a few years in the Newhaven sea cadets, and took immense pride in parading every Remembrance Sunday, and also once at the Cenotaph in London. He still says that it was his proudest day ever. He has also visited Auschwitz & is a keen ww2 historian.
Those are 2 kids who will always remember the fallen.

 

[fly high]

I respectfully disagree. Many teenagers travel more than previous generations and know Europe better than we did.

They may travel more but that doesn't mean they have a greater knowledge or understanding of history. The 18 to 20 something lads I worked with hadn't got a clue and had absolutely no interest in it.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

I respectfully disagree. Many teenagers travel more than previous generations and know Europe better than we did.

I’ve come across plenty of young kids who are fascinated by it. It’s taught in schools and for many that sparks an interest which they follow-up on.

 

[Nicks]

When my lad was at Harrogate At The Army Foundation College they were taken to The Somme and all the D Day sights as part of their education.
He has been lucky enough to jump at the last D Day celebration and also at Arnhem on the 75th Anniversary.
I'm going over with him later this year for the Arnhem Anniversary ( where my Dad took me too over 55 years ago)

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

A few pics I found from our trip in 2012. As someone mentioned earlier, it really is worth a journey out to Normandy to see everything & pay respects.
Im hoping to get back there soon myself.

My lad found this last one especially fascinating - as it was someone with his own name. He spent about 5 mins after this just sitting there by the side, gazing upon it quietly on his own.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Christian Lamb WRNS officer aged 104 will receive the Legion d'Honneur medal today. She made the maps of the beaches for the landings.

Christian Lamb made maps to guide the crews landing crafts at Normandy on D-Day

As a young Women's Royal Naval Service officer in World War II, Christian Lamb tried to make sure British troops were in exactly the right place when they scrambled onto Normandy's beaches under enemy fire

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Eeyore]

Uncle was D Day plus 6. He never spoke about the war. The closest he came to death was here in the UK when a bomb dropped on Egremont Place as he was walking up the road.

The reason he never spoke about it was because he was in the battalion that liberated Belsen. My dad only recounting the horrors he saw.

As one tearful veteran said 'It will never end. we can fly to the moon... but we still do stupid things'

 

[A1X]

Classy coverage from the BBC this week. Sophie Raworth and others gentle interviewing with the remaining heroes, have been immense.

I gets a lot of stick from various people for various things, but it can't really be argued that this sort of thing the BBC just does so well every single time.

 

[Weststander]

I gets a lot of stick from various people for various things, but it can't really be argued that this sort of thing the BBC just does so well every single time.

I love the BBC, both radio and TV.

Ignoring all the zzzzzz claims of it being Tory or Metropolitan Liberal Elite/Labour.

 

[portlock seagull]

I wonder why you had to die without the chance to say goodbye: Pvt A Richards, Hants Rgt, from Eileen and family, on a Bayeux Cemetery headstone.

D-Day is one thing I made sure my lads knew of from an early age, and we visited the beaches & cemeteries in Normandy about 10-15 years ago. Now 18 & 21, they have both asked if they can come to the Newhaven event tonight to pay their respects. My eldest spent a few years in the Newhaven sea cadets, and took immense pride in parading every Remembrance Sunday, and also once at the Cenotaph in London. He still says that it was his proudest day ever. He has also visited Auschwitz & is a keen ww2 historian.
Those are 2 kids who will always remember the fallen.

sadly in a very small class of their own. Those periodic surveys that come out are always amusing when school kids never heard of Churchill, Hitler, Hastings, Nelson etc. but then we no longer have a remotely close shared heritage amongst many other factors

 

[KZNSeagull]

My Uncle was there on D-Day in the Infantry. He never spoke about it.
A gentleman I played a lot of golf with will almost certainly be there today aged 99. He was a rear gunner on a Motor Torpedo Boat in the Channel. He has been to 10 Downing Street, been interviewed by ITV, BBC and a French tv station in the run up to today and I believe has been invited to Marble Arch by Blind Veterans UK today. "It's all a bit embarrassing", he says, "People keep telling me I'm the guest of honour but I don't know why".
Total heroes all of them.

 

[wunt be druv]

Very moving at Bayeaux...seemed to keep getting something in my eye..

 

[wunt be druv]

getting

 

[PascalGroß Tips]

Did a nice long walk this morning, including heading up Mill Hill towards Truleigh Hill so I could see the poppy field. Very poignant.

 

[Weststander]

BBC SE live from Newhaven and Normandy for this.

 

[hart's shirt]

If anyone's free in a couple of hours...

Marking the occasion​

8.45pm, Thursday 6 June, Hove Beacon, Kingsway, Hove, BN3 4LX

Cadets from across the city will be marking this occasion by forming a parade along the seafront, leading up to the Hove Beacon.

The parade will coincide with the beacon lighting ceremonies taking place across the nation in celebration of the ‘light of peace’ that emerged out of the darkness of war.

Joining the ceremony will be the mayor, councillors, members of the Royal Sussex Regiment Veterans Association and veterans from the newly formed Brighton & Hove Veterans group.

Councillor Amanda Grimshaw, the council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “It’s an honour to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a supreme feat of strategy, skills, unity and courage which shaped the world as we know it today, and pay tribute to all those who lost their lives and whose lives have been irrevocably changed.

“80 years on, we must make sure that the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of these men and women are never forgotten and that their hope for better world and yearning for freedom, peace and human rights continue to shine within future generations.

“I invite everyone to come mark this occasion with our cadets and learn of the wonderful opportunities cadets provide for our young people to engage, thrive and grow.”

https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2024/lighting-darkness-80th-anniversary-d-day