An uncle of my mother landed a couple of days after D-Day with the 51st Highland Division. He was involved in heavy fighting around Caen and was with them right through into Germany at the end of the war. He never really spoke about his wartime experiences but I found out after he died that his unit had liberated a concentration camp .
D Day
- Thread starter Cuchilo
- Start date
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Pro Tour Punditry
Guru
I'm not sure that this is true - I'm really not sure people do recognise the role of countries other than England
The OP was posting a message of respect for the veterans. Surely he doesn't deserve for this thread to turn his post into accusations of racism.
Pro Tour Punditry
Guru
He may very well have done, but the 2nd post was very particular in mentioning "English" - I am at liberty to give my opinion, and to highlight the narrow-minded attitude which permits people to think that such use of language does not matter, because it does.
"If it wasn't for the brave English soldiers, you wouldn't have that liberty, God Bless the Queen!"
Mattonsea
Über Member
- Location
- New Forest
Yet again another thread ruined.
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
- Location
- Northumberland
Ok, point made Marmion, we went to Arromanches, during a week in Normandy including Mont St Michel while the Tour was passing through, the museum there celebrates everyone's role and is presented with tact, respect and gratitude.
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djb1971
Legendary Member
- Location
- Far Far Away
I've got a photograph of my grandfather on display wearing his uniform and next to it his medals in a boxed frame. I look at it everyday, he gave his very young life along with thousands of others for something he thought was worth dying for.
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
I too have been humbled and impressed by the reminiscences on the TV and radio. There were some elderly Americans on a programme the other night who were just so quietly amazing.
On a sadder note, my dear mother has rung me today in tears remembering D-Day. She was 14 at the time and remembers sitting on the railings watching the tanks and armoured vehicles rumbling by, waving to the soldiers. She said there was such a feeling of relief that the invasion had started. But today she is almost inconsolable, and was saying to me: "people are still messing up the world, where will it all end"? She has had a lot to deal with in the past few years with my father's dementia and I think she is letting out a lot of other grief about life in general, precipitated by these incredibly moving and vivid broadcasts.
Every time I see the stuff about WW1 that we've been seeing, I think of my 2 granddads who both survived the Somme. They would never talk about it either.
On a sadder note, my dear mother has rung me today in tears remembering D-Day. She was 14 at the time and remembers sitting on the railings watching the tanks and armoured vehicles rumbling by, waving to the soldiers. She said there was such a feeling of relief that the invasion had started. But today she is almost inconsolable, and was saying to me: "people are still messing up the world, where will it all end"? She has had a lot to deal with in the past few years with my father's dementia and I think she is letting out a lot of other grief about life in general, precipitated by these incredibly moving and vivid broadcasts.
Every time I see the stuff about WW1 that we've been seeing, I think of my 2 granddads who both survived the Somme. They would never talk about it either.
Risex4
Dropped by the autobus
- Location
- The Green/Gray Hills Of Debunshire
Right. The 'English' contribution to the war wasnt even entirely English.
The Polish had first cracked Enigma long before Blethcley Park was a thing.
The Famous "Few" that won the Battle of Britain was made up of pilots from all four corners of the globe.
Indians, Australians and New Zealanders played a crucial role in checking and rolling back the Germans and Italians at El Alamein.
As D-Day is the topic in hand, Juno Beach was taken by the Canadians with support from Royal Marine Commandos who themselves were a complete cross-section of the British Empire's constituent nationalities at the time.
Whatever story you read of individual heroeics, from Chariot at St.Nazaire to the Dambusters of 617 and Chastise, its chock full of Canadians, Scotsmen, Irish, Australians, Czechs...
SOE's many seperate sections (F,FR,P,EU, and more) who actually deployed in the business of intelligence gathering and asymetric warefare were made up of French, Poles, Scandanavians...
The founder of the SAS, the one who had the initial idea, drove its tactical and training development, led it on the ground, and moulded its values which still exist today was a a Scotsman.
All of that is to say nothing of the countless resistance movements throughout Europe which sought to fight in the most dangerous circumstances when it must have been easier to simply kneel to the occupation.
On and on it goes.
And I still yet haven't got anywhere near the Russians, Scandanvian theater, Pacific theater, the Asian theater, the Gurkas, the list is endless.
Yes my generalisation was a tad unfortunate, but guess what, I'm English. I am fully aware of who did what in the war (well, I'm not, noone today truly can be) but I make no appologies if my first thoughts of veterans are initially coloured a little English-centric. It in no way devalues other nations, and it doesn't mean I believe anything like "we won the war alone".
Sorry to derail the thread, but to be honest that offended me a little and I felt I had a right to answer that.
jayonabike
Powered by caffeine & whisky
- Location
- Hertfordshire
jayonabike
Powered by caffeine & whisky
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Back on topic.
I have nothing but the upmost respect and admiration for the old soldiers commemorating D Day today. They are much braver men than me.
I have nothing but the upmost respect and admiration for the old soldiers commemorating D Day today. They are much braver men than me.
SteCenturion
I am your Father
- Location
- The Dark Side of the Moon.
You really are a €0€K Born Manchester - Scottish father in British Army - English mother in British Army, ex R.A.F, Grandad in WWII, cousins & uncles in R.A.F, Navy & Army.
Worked with Gurkhas, Yanks, Canadians, Italians & Ruskies.
Thanks for trying to ruin Cuchilo's sentiment...
Well done.
Chromatic
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
He does seem to need to work a little more on what he comprehends from what he reads.
EltonFrog
Legendary Member
If anyone has the time you can have a read of this, http://albertpettman.co.uk my grandfathers diary transposed to a website of his time on HMS Manxman the fastest ship in the RN at the time. Not involved in the D Day landings but got stuck in many other important battles of that horiffic war. In those days nearly everyone who fought, took part, was in a reserved occupation, was a hero. My other Grandfather drove trains up and down the country transporting men, women & arms. And whilst we are remembering, spare a thought for the enemy, they were in it up to their necks too, and I don't suppose they had a lot of choice in the matter.
Albert Pettman never ever spoke of his time in the war. After the war he was mightly pissed off that his war pension was subject to income tax.
/
Albert Pettman never ever spoke of his time in the war. After the war he was mightly pissed off that his war pension was subject to income tax.
/
This book is an interesting insight into the preparations for D Day http://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/the-forgotten-dead-by-ken-small-and-mark-rogerson/
