York Branch NVA Normandy Tour 2009

Discussion in 'WW2 Battlefields Today' started by Paul Reed, Jun 9, 2009.

  1. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Fantastic Paul. Thanks for sharing.
     
  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    We've now moved on to Arromanches on the afternoon of 6th June. This is when it was baking hot.

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  3. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Scene on the Beach:

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  4. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

  5. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

  6. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Robert Hall interviewing Arthur Wragg, 124 LAA RA, for BBC24.

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  7. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Now the rain comes... the huge cover was for some TV crews, but there wasn't more than half a dozen set up. The BBC had theirs on a gib and everything was hand-held, what you'd expect for a OB. The vets should have been under that cover - not six cameramen.

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  8. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    The rain was so heavy, my DSLR was playing up so I couldn't get it to focus properly for this shot which shows the "VIPs" under cover, with the Vets in the rain. Look how soaked peoples hats and clothes are.

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  9. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    So it was even trickier to get a shot of the BoB Flight. More photos later.

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    Smudger Jnr likes this.
  10. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Paul,

    Great photographs.

    Lovely to see.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks again Paul - Great shots,

    Anyone know about the Landing Craft? It's flying a Australian flag - I'm guessing it never came all that way?

    Regards
     
  12. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    It was RN, as I 'conscripted' some of the sailors to help out when we were looking for medics.
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks Paul,

    I wonder why it wasn't flying a white duster :unsure:
     
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  15. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    It does indeed look like a defaced Blue Ensign. I don't know why as I would expect the White Ensign to be flown if operated by the RN. However a white ensign as far as I can recalL should only be flown from a commisioned RN ship.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  16. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    To continue with our story, after the commemorations we had a day on the battlefields visiting locations requested by the group.

    We started at Banneville War Cemetery.

    L-R: Douglas Haw RASC, Frederick Partrick 59th Medium Regt RA, Arthur Wragg 124th LAA RA.

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  17. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    We then went on to Cagny, where Frank Lodge 94 LAA RA, Guards Armoured Division, fought in July 1944. Here we visited the church, showing wartime damage.

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  18. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Memorial to the Guards Armoured on the church wall.

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  19. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    We spent lunchtime around Pegasus Bridge, and I went into the museum with Frederick Patrick to see a 5.5-inch gun, which his unit was issued with.

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  20. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    He was very proud to have his photo taken with the gun; it made his day, he said.

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