D-DAY VETERAN’S EMOTIONAL RETURN TO THE BATTLEFIELDS A veteran of 41 Commando has made an emotional return to the beaches of Normandy. Ted Owens, aged 88 and from Pembroke Dock, Wales, returned to the spot at which he had been wounded during the landings as part of filming for an upcoming television programme. Ted also made an astonishing visit to a town in the Netherlands where civilians paid a terrible price – not only at the hands of the Germans but of the British too. “It was an amazing trip into the past for me,” said Ted. “I was able to walk near Sword Beach where I landed and was wounded. “We also went to the Walcheren Islands where I took part in a commando landing exactly 68 years ago this November. “I spoke to many local people there. That was very moving indeed.” Ted’s trip was filmed for the first in a special three-part series, titled ‘Welsh Heroes of World War 2’, which will be broadcast on ITV Wales on Thursday, November 1. Ted attended a special service at Bayeux War Cemetery and was invited to the village of Maizet, along with other Welsh veterans. Maizet holds a service every year to honour the Welsh soldiers who liberated the village in 1944. From France, Ted travelled to Westkapelle, a town in the Dutch Walcheren islands, which were the scene of a crucial battle late in 1944. Ahead of the invasion by troops, including Ted, the RAF bombed dykes to flood the island and weaken the German defences. In Westkapelle, Ted met people who remember the destruction that the bombing caused. * ‘Welsh Heroes of World War 2’, 10.35pm, Thursday, November 1, ITV Wales. The programme, which was filmed in June, will be available on-line across the UK after broadcast. I'll post the link when I have it!
Here is a link to a previous thread on the battle. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-battlefields-today/44713-walcheren-islands-3.html Regards Tom
Thanks all for the messages. The other programmes in the series are: Programme 2 features 91-year-old Eileen Younghusband from Sully, who was just 19 when she was chosen as part of a select band of young women to work in the Filter Room - the nerve centre of the radar system. They were responsible for tracking hostile planes approaching British shores so fighters could be scrambled to attack. Their information also led to air raid warnings saving countless lives. TX November 8, 10.35pm Programme 3 features John Evans, originally from Goodwick, Pembrokeshire, who was the pilot of a Halifax bomber during WW2. He was shot down in May 1944 and spent four months on the run behind enemy lines. The programme features a rare interview with a heroine of the Belgian resistance Andree Dumon and includes a meeting between John and one of the few surviving Luftwaffe nightfighter aces whose job it was to shoot people like John down. They compare log books and come up with a startling discovery about the night John was shot down. TX November 15, 10.35pm Will let you know when they are online too.
Hi all The programme I made with D-Day commando Ted Owens went out on ITV Wales last Thursday and was very well received. Ted is a real star! It is now online to view at this link: Welsh Heroes of World War II - D-Day Commando | Wales - ITV News Hope you enjoy it. Please spread the word! Greg
Hiya Tom So glad you enjoyed it. The film editor and I were pretty choked up when we watched it back for the first time in the cutting room. Ted is every bit as wonderful and humble as he comes across. A real gent. Greg
Hi all Just to let you know that if you are watching live the last in the series of Welsh Heroes of World War 2 is on TONIGHT. 10.35, ITV Wales. It tells the story of evader John Evans who was shot down in May 1944 and spent four months on the run. He was aided by the Comet Line. It features an interview with Andree 'Nadine' Dumon and the first ever television appearance by Luftwaffe ace Dr Rolf Ebhardt. Dr Ebhardt came to the UK to meet John. I'll post the online link when I can. Greg
Hi all The programme I made with D-Day commando Ted Owens went out on ITV Wales last Thursday and was very well received. Ted is a real star! It is now online to view at this link: Welsh Heroes of World War II - D-Day Commando | Wales - ITV News Hope you enjoy it. Please spread the word! Greg Thank you for the link, fantastic program.