D_Day anniversary
- Thread starter Skirmish
- Start date
Skirmish
Well-known member
Visited them all a couple of years ago on a battlefield tour, walked out on Omaha where they roughly got off the boats in their full kit, it would have been horrendous.
Erimus74
Well-known member
Tried to find his pub when I recently cycled round South Bank but unfortunately it's provably demolished
Richyboro
Well-known member
My Grandad served with him, 6th Green Howards,
Landed on Gold Beach, remember him telling me he has never been so scared in all his life sat in those landing craft, most couldn't wait to get on the beach.
All he did the first day was dig and smoke. God bless him, don't make them like that anymore.
Landed on Gold Beach, remember him telling me he has never been so scared in all his life sat in those landing craft, most couldn't wait to get on the beach.
All he did the first day was dig and smoke. God bless him, don't make them like that anymore.
FartingGnome
Well-known member
He was landlord of the Hollywell View in Liverton Mines as well. Don't know if it's still open, or what it's called these days, think it went under The Jolly Holly for a while. I went there. Once. About 20 years after Hollis was the landlord.
Edit - gone back to the Hollywell View
https://thegoodpubguide.co.uk/pub/ts13+4qh/the+hollywell+view/
uncle_rico
Well-known member
It’s a real shame the few remaining D Day veterans can’t visit the Cenotaph today to pay their respects to their fallen comrades.
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
Erimus, his pub was in North Ormesby not South Bank.
I remember being at Dogy market as a child with my dad and him lifting me up to see him and then him telling me all about him as we walked round the market.
Erimus74
Well-known member
Cheers Norman
The_Unicorn
Well-known member
He ran the 'Albion' which was on the market square, knocked down in the 70s, I think it may have been called the 'Green Howard' for a while before being demolished?
American_Mary
Well-known member
My grandad was involved in D-Day, he was a Dakota pilot and towed gliders full of paratroopers over the Channel the night before so they could secure the bridges in readiness for the invasion itself.
On D-Day itself he dropped supplies onto the beach head and to the advanced troops and also flew some reconnaissance as the troops advanced, after the fall of Berlin he went to Asia and supported the USA troops with supply drops.
He was apparently the youngest pilot ever to have both his RAF and USAF wings, he was 20 at the time of D-Day, it’s quite incredible how young so many of our WW2 heroes were.
On D-Day itself he dropped supplies onto the beach head and to the advanced troops and also flew some reconnaissance as the troops advanced, after the fall of Berlin he went to Asia and supported the USA troops with supply drops.
He was apparently the youngest pilot ever to have both his RAF and USAF wings, he was 20 at the time of D-Day, it’s quite incredible how young so many of our WW2 heroes were.
r00fie1
Well-known member
Army Benevolent Fund - ABF - commemorated the D-Day landings last August. We cycled the coast - visiting all the landing sites. The guns from the warships stationed just off the coast were firing shells, which landed up to 15 [yes 15!] miles inland to force the Germans back.
The most decisive battle in normandy was in Falaise [known as the "Falaise Pocket"] where German troops were forced into an area surrounded by steep hills - surrounded by allied troops. The Germans were trying to move east - towards Paris, but couldnt escape during the battle.
Over ten years after the end of the War, there is an area of land [outside Falaise] which was so toxic and contaminated with the blood, bodies and ammunition of battle - which was out-of-bounds and could not be farmed, built on, or used for any purpose until it was declared safe by scientists and the French M.O.D.
At Falaise there is a monument to Polish General Maczek, who lead his troops in a fierce battle. The Poles, who never forgot how the Nazis had murdered their families and reduced their country to a slave camp, repaid the Germans - literally taking no prisoners.
Standing atop the Ormel Ridge we could see the whole area - it was one of those moments where there is total silence - like the world has stood still. Just trying to imagine the carnage was beyond our comprehension.
There is a German Tiger Tank along the road to Pont d`Ouilly. It is one of many monuments to the fierce battles.
If anyone is interested, next August [2021] we are cycling the route to Arhem ["A Bridge Too Far"] - taking in all the bridges and significant sites of "Operation Market Garden".
Wheels on the Western Front: Ride to Arnhem
September 2021
A charity ride in aid of ABF The Soldiers' Charity, this is the 5th instalment of this popular event using the same successful formula as previous years. Riders will then cycle 331 miles through France, Belgium and Holland visiting the important sites of Ypres, Waterloo and to commemorate those events of Operation Market Garden in 1944 focusing on the battle for the bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and finally Arnhem 77 years on. Overnight stops will be in Ypres, Waterloo, Eindhoven and Arnhem (2 nights) before returning to Folkestone by coach transfer on Friday 10 September 2021.
The most decisive battle in normandy was in Falaise [known as the "Falaise Pocket"] where German troops were forced into an area surrounded by steep hills - surrounded by allied troops. The Germans were trying to move east - towards Paris, but couldnt escape during the battle.
Over ten years after the end of the War, there is an area of land [outside Falaise] which was so toxic and contaminated with the blood, bodies and ammunition of battle - which was out-of-bounds and could not be farmed, built on, or used for any purpose until it was declared safe by scientists and the French M.O.D.
At Falaise there is a monument to Polish General Maczek, who lead his troops in a fierce battle. The Poles, who never forgot how the Nazis had murdered their families and reduced their country to a slave camp, repaid the Germans - literally taking no prisoners.
Standing atop the Ormel Ridge we could see the whole area - it was one of those moments where there is total silence - like the world has stood still. Just trying to imagine the carnage was beyond our comprehension.
There is a German Tiger Tank along the road to Pont d`Ouilly. It is one of many monuments to the fierce battles.
If anyone is interested, next August [2021] we are cycling the route to Arhem ["A Bridge Too Far"] - taking in all the bridges and significant sites of "Operation Market Garden".
Wheels on the Western Front: Ride to Arnhem
September 2021
A charity ride in aid of ABF The Soldiers' Charity, this is the 5th instalment of this popular event using the same successful formula as previous years. Riders will then cycle 331 miles through France, Belgium and Holland visiting the important sites of Ypres, Waterloo and to commemorate those events of Operation Market Garden in 1944 focusing on the battle for the bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and finally Arnhem 77 years on. Overnight stops will be in Ypres, Waterloo, Eindhoven and Arnhem (2 nights) before returning to Folkestone by coach transfer on Friday 10 September 2021.
Second Mate
Active member
Army Benevolent Fund - ABF - commemorated the D-Day landings last August. We cycled the coast - visiting all the landing sites. The guns from the warships stationed just off the coast were firing shells, which landed up to 15 [yes 15!] miles inland to force the Germans back.
View attachment 3767
The most decisive battle in normandy was in Falaise [known as the "Falaise Pocket"] where German troops were forced into an area surrounded by steep hills - surrounded by allied troops. The Germans were trying to move east - towards Paris, but couldnt escape during the battle.
View attachment 3766
Over ten years after the end of the War, there is an area of land [outside Falaise] which was so toxic and contaminated with the blood, bodies and ammunition of battle - which was out-of-bounds and could not be farmed, built on, or used for any purpose until it was declared safe by scientists and the French M.O.D.
At Falaise there is a monument to Polish General Maczek, who lead his troops in a fierce battle. The Poles, who never forgot how the Nazis had murdered their families and reduced their country to a slave camp, repaid the Germans - literally taking no prisoners.
Standing atop the Ormel Ridge we could see the whole area - it was one of those moments where there is total silence - like the world has stood still. Just trying to imagine the carnage was beyond our comprehension.
There is a German Tiger Tank along the road to Pont d`Ouilly. It is one of many monuments to the fierce battles.
If anyone is interested, next August [2021] we are cycling the route to Arhem ["A Bridge Too Far"] - taking in all the bridges and significant sites of "Operation Market Garden".
Wheels on the Western Front: Ride to Arnhem
September 2021
A charity ride in aid of ABF The Soldiers' Charity, this is the 5th instalment of this popular event using the same successful formula as previous years. Riders will then cycle 331 miles through France, Belgium and Holland visiting the important sites of Ypres, Waterloo and to commemorate those events of Operation Market Garden in 1944 focusing on the battle for the bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and finally Arnhem 77 years on. Overnight stops will be in Ypres, Waterloo, Eindhoven and Arnhem (2 nights) before returning to Folkestone by coach transfer on Friday 10 September 2021.
Many Germans did escaped through the Falaise gap before it was closed (and very many captured) but without much of their heavier equipment. Thanks for the post, a really interesting read. Good luck with and enjoy your 2021 ride.