D - Day A tribute to Heroes.

[Iggy666 2,880]

The naval base, HMS Dryad, in the village of Southwick in Portsmouth is where the d day landings were planned. I was born in that village. We used to have huge celebrations about d day. Such a sombre day, but momentous in human history. I have an enormous sense of pride about it, as should everyone alive today. Can't begin to imagine the horror of that day, nor the immense bravery it must have took. Thank God we have had nothing like it since, and I hope we never do again.

[Don54 25,517]

1 hour ago, Thermopylae said:

Sometimes you just have to say thank you ... imagine flying over a blacked out occupied Europe full of ack ack and night fighters in one of these  

it must have been some experience especially for the tail-end Charlie,  I read somewhere that they could expect to be shot down, or killed, within two weeks, or up to five operations. 

[Don54 25,517]

My old man was a 'spark' in the Royal Navy and was on one of the landing crafts taking the troops in, said he thought he'd never see his mother again, he's still going strong 94 now

[Sparkle 53,530]

Watching it all on tv makes you properly proud to be British.  That doesn’t happen too often these days unfortunately.

[2nd Flute 14,036]

13 minutes ago, Don54 said:

My old man was a 'spark' in the Royal Navy and was on one of the landing crafts taking the troops in, said he thought he'd never see his mother again, he's still going strong 94 now

Excellent 👍

[LegendofCoop 17,253]

1 hour ago, Inigo said:

My old gramps did exactly that on D-Day. As he flew back from bombing the Merville-Franceville battery he saw the armada on it's way from his turret. Old boy died last year.

His log book entry from that day...

That's really interesting to look at mate. Thanks for sharing. Did he ever mention why some of the entries are in blue, some red?

[LegendofCoop 17,253]

21 minutes ago, Don54 said:

My old man was a 'spark' in the Royal Navy and was on one of the landing crafts taking the troops in, said he thought he'd never see his mother again, he's still going strong 94 now

Mate, say a Thank You to him for me. I know it's nothing in terms of paying back what we owe, but it's the least I can do. 

Same goes out to anyone else in here who has relatives who served. We take so much for granted these days......it's days like today, and tomorrow, where we should always stop for a minute and just think of those who served, and give them our thanks, while we still can. Never let it happen again!

[cr3_bear 14,808]

[2nd Flute 14,036]

[heathen fish boy 8,574]

Brave men every one,can only imagine the fear and trepidation on those craft sailing over,only ever known one guy who was there,he got married on the 4th because he thought he wasn't coming back,lived to reach his diamond wedding anniversary and never once regretted it,a great man 

[Rangers#1 5,459]

The guys that went in in the first landing crafts must have known they had practically no chance of surviving, that is some fucking bottle.

 

[bordersbear 1,105]

Also spare a thought for the thousands of German troops who were called up to arms and had no choice other than go to war.  Millions of lives lost over two wars, and for what?

[Bears r us 30,771]

2 hours ago, Sparkle said:

Watching it all on tv makes you properly proud to be British.  That doesn’t happen too often these days unfortunately.

Mrs Bru and I watched it this morning S and it was done so well, everything Britain does like this is wonderful.

I must admit to having a tear in my eye a couple of times, these things can certainly pull at the heart strings.  

[2nd Flute 14,036]

5 minutes ago, bordersbear said:

Also spare a thought for the thousands of German troops who were called up to arms and had no choice other than go to war.  Millions of lives lost over two wars, and for what?

Definitely mate, read a few books looking at it from their side, brave men as well, and not all Nazis by any means. 

[2nd Flute 14,036]

2 minutes ago, Bears r us said:

Mrs Bru and I watched it this morning S and it was done so well, everything Britain does in like this is wonderful.

I must admit to having a tear in my eye a couple of times, these things can certainly pull at the heart strings.  

We are great at pomp and pageantry, no one can beat us, watching the old Paras doing their jump brought a tear to my eye,amazing. 

[bordersbear 1,105]

My father was one. Had no choice.was captured at El Alemain.  He chose to stay here after the war because he hated what his country put him through. He always said everyone here treated him with respect.

[Inigo 32,526]

5 hours ago, LegendofCoop said:

That's really interesting to look at mate. Thanks for sharing. Did he ever mention why some of the entries are in blue, some red?

Combat missions are red I think, and other stuff, base transfers, training and stuff are blue mate.

46 combat missions in total.

[siddiqi_drinker 14,635]

2 hours ago, Don54 said:

My old man was a 'spark' in the Royal Navy and was on one of the landing crafts taking the troops in, said he thought he'd never see his mother again, he's still going strong 94 now

then get your dad a wee tot of rum to celebrate the day - My old man no longer with us was on one of the minesweepers keeping the channel clear 

[backup 4,724]

Everything about these brave chaps and lassies who fought for and gave us our liberty, makes one feel very humble and grateful.

The Queen’s speech was absolutely wonderful GSTQ !

[BLUEDIGNITY 33,638]

[backup 4,724]

[govanblue 16,847]

We have our own little D-Day tradition here on RM...

 

 

 

 

 

And if more people would donate to the RM Erskine Fund, we could  probably do the same again next year too.

 

 

 

[SonOfLuther 3,400]

[Don54 25,517]

4 hours ago, LegendofCoop said:

Mate, say a Thank You to him for me. I know it's nothing in terms of paying back what we owe, but it's the least I can do. 

Same goes out to anyone else in here who has relatives who served. We take so much for granted these days......it's days like today, and tomorrow, where we should always stop for a minute and just think of those who served, and give them our thanks, while we still can. Never let it happen again!

Will do mate, when the Falklands conflict was kicking off he said " I wish I was going tomorrow"

[Don54 25,517]

2 hours ago, siddiqi_drinker said:

then get your dad a wee tot of rum to celebrate the day - My old man no longer with us was on one of the minesweepers keeping the channel clear 

He's been known to take the odd hauf now and again but my younger sisters ration him on it. That was a dodgy business on the minesweepers