Here we are, day four already. Today was the first of the 'working days' - when we attend ceremonies to remember those who took part in the D Day landings.
Today we headed first to Pegasus Bridge, Benouville. For those who don't know, it was the site of the first landings of D Day, when men of the 6th Airborne, led by Major John Howard, took the Bridge (today known as Pegasus Bridge) and held it until relieved by Lord Lovat's commandos.
The Cadets were present at ceremonies within the Museum complex, to remember those who gave their lives and to honour those veterans who are still with us and were present today.
This afternoon we laid a wreath at Graye sur Mer, at the spot where men of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (fellow Riflemen) came ashore on Juno Beach. The cadets were able to talk to veterans of the landings, who told stories of D Day and answered the Cadets questions about the landings.
In a few minutes, we will be heading back to Pegasus Bridge, for the midnight ceremony and fireworks. Although there will be remembrance of the fallen, and of those who are no longer able to be with us, this is always a joyful celebration, as Benouville prides itself on being the first village in France to be liberated. we have heard that tonight there may be fireworks as well.
Friday 5 June 2009
Thursday 4 June 2009
Arrival
OK - it's day three already and I'm only just doing the first entry. Our internet connection definitely isn't any better and I'm blogging this from MacDonalds in Bayeux whilst having a coffee.
Everyone arrived safely and have settled in well. We spent the first evening at the Museum at Tilly sur Seulles - a beautiful medieval chapel, restored in the last few years to provide a beautiful setting for a village museum which records the very personal stories of the destruction and rebuilding of a Normandy village.
Yesterday we started the day at the Cinema Circulaire at Arromanches les Bains. Rather than trying to tell the story of D Day, the cinema shows a film 'in the round' that attempts to record, without words, the sights and sounds of Normandy then and now. Impressive, no matter how often you see it.
We moved on to the German gun battery at Longues sur mer, and ended the day with visits to both the American Military Cemetery at Colleville and then Pointe du Hoc, where the US Rangers fought so hard.
Today we visited Ste Mere Eglise and Utah Beach.
Normandy is really buzzing at the moment. Thousands of ex-military vehicles, with their owners (often in WW2 uniforms) are on every street and in every car park. President Obama is expected in the area on the 6th June, and preparations are well under way. We won't be affected by that particularly - we will spend D Day at Pegasus Bridge and the area of Benouville.
Sunday 17 May 2009
Update 2009 - keeping it at the top!
Update - Ready for Tour 2009
Well, last year the Blog wasn't the greatest success - the slow dialup connection and lack of time meant that we weren't able to update as we would like. We're going to have another shot at it this year. The 2009 tour begins on Tuesday 2 June. The advance party leave on Saturday 30 May and we hope to have the grass tamed and possibly even the tents up by the time the Cadets and Adult Instructors arrive.This year will be the 65th Anniversary of D-Day. There will be some exciting celebrations, old comrades meeting up again, sad remembrances of absent friends, new generations learning about the sacrifices made so that Europe could live free of dictatorship. For us it will be a few days of seeing the sights followed by a couple of days of ceremonies. We hope that you will all gain a new insight into lives very different from your own and a sense of the immense debt we all owe to those who helped liberate Europe 65 years ago.
So, to get you in the mood to hit the beaches this year, below are some of the highlights from the Tour 2008.
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