The last photograph in this thread from the trip is one that made me laugh. As we left the parade the military vehicles were leaving the area and the two motorcycle riders took it upon themselves to start directing traffic to allow the military convoy to drive through the area without stopping. He's one of them stopping a lot of traffic at a major junction near the harbour...I thought lucky for him there was no Gendarme around !
Some of us paid our own Dunkirk tribute with a lot of us raising money for Help For Heros, 25 of us marched from Bethune to Dunkirk in 2 half days and 2 full days sleeping in barns and abandonned buildings dressed in full an authentic 1940 BEF kit, you wouldn't have seen us as we stayed away from any main commemorations as they belong to the vets. Our route took us vai le Paradis, Merville, Hazebrouck, Cassel, Wormhoudt, Wylder, Warhem and into Dunkirk. A few pictures are enclosed
Hello Jon (and welcome), I followed your planning on other forums. Most impressive . It would be great to see photographs here. Have you posted any yet ? There were some comical outfits in Dunkirk on the Saturday but one or two of the vehicles were spot-on. It is such a fine line between tribute and parody. Sadly, not so many old soldiers to be upstaged any more.
Hello Jon (and welcome), I followed your planning on other forums. Most impressive . It would be great to see photographs here. Have you posted any yet ? There were some comical outfits in Dunkirk on the Saturday but one or two of the vehicles were spot-on. It is such a fine line between tribute and parody. Sadly, not so many old soldiers to be upstaged any more. sorry forgot the photos from the Dunkirk 2010 commemorative march, they are on the link below I don't know how to insert them here, anyone who wishes to insert each actual image would be welcome to do so, I hope they meet with approval dunkirk 2010 march pictures by jonheyworth - Photobucket
my pleasure, 2nd time we've done it, first was in 2000, will do it again in 2015 but that will be my last as even by the more elderly age standards of many BEF troops I'll be too old after that ! A long way, Bethune to Dunkirk in that kit, and no one was bombing/chasing/shooting at us, so even 5% of what the real lads went through teaches you a lesson !
Jon, you should have a word with ADLS's and see if they'll meet you at the beaches? Agreed Rich, I did like that one too - all thats missing is a DR Jon is that house near Cassel?
It's just south of Hazebrouck on the D53 road. Thanks for the accuracy compliment, it's very hard to get all the kit etc right but it's your only justification for doing this - well and the H4H fund raising of course ADSL, MMMMMMM, wrote to Raymond Baxter in 1998, had the nastiest, snottiest letter in reply, "we don't want to be associated with the likes of you " quote, so never bothered with them again. Very, very reluctant to get involved with any official commemorations as it's a private tribute and we don't want to take ANYTHING away from the vets. However, for 2015 it would be so nice to get taken off the mole !!
It's just south of Hazebrouck on the D53 road. Thanks for the accuracy compliment, it's very hard to get all the kit etc right but it's your only justification for doing this - well and the H4H fund raising of course ADSL, MMMMMMM, wrote to Raymond Baxter in 1998, had the nastiest, snottiest letter in reply, "we don't want to be associated with the likes of you " quote, so never bothered with them again. Very, very reluctant to get involved with any official commemorations as it's a private tribute and we don't want to take ANYTHING away from the vets. However, for 2015 it would be so nice to get taken off the mole !! That doesn't surprise me - I saw them at Ramsgate wearing their Blazers and Ties and they did have a look of we are better than you about them. A women (Admittedly she was a bit OTT) wanted to shake all their hands and thank them, they weren't particulary interested in her. They did seem to have much time for me either when I managed to get down onto the private harbour where they were docked when I tried to speak to them-The skipper of MTB 102 even told me the wrong place of where they were coming in to Dunkirk.
P/S have to admit I used a lot of your BEF research in the history talks on the trip Drew !! Awww cheers mate, I've come over all warm and fuzzy. I appreciate that, it's nice to know folk make use of what I do. Cheers Andy
BLOODY GOOD SHOW MATE ! [YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bySvv-9K4pk&feature=related[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKtIoCj7gcU&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
