not sure who (if anyone) is following all the blurb… but I found this collection of photos very moving…
almost as if I were a fly on the wall… I could hear all the noise…
and I was tearful, thinking about the loss of life throughout that War and all the others…
We never seem to learn…
We have been out this morning to the Canadian and Polish cemeteries south of Caen and also to a memorial to members of the Calvados maquis. The landing beaches should rightly be remembered, but there is so much more to the Normandy campaign. Our village will have ceremonies in August.
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updated 3rd June 2024
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I’ve downloaded this and plan to watch it this week.
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I first toured the landing sites in the early eighties with a great cassette tape tour… “you are now in the car park facing Omaha beach…”, it was great but there was little by way of “interpretive centres” or whatever one should call them. One was on one’s own but it meant you saw the sites for real. Now forty years on the facilities are excellent, but a lot of the visceral realty has been eroded.
We went on vacation to Normandy in the eighties. Our boys found live ammunition which they smuggled back to England and dismantled in my workshop. Only found out years later.
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Our village has various commemoration events starting next week and also in August (whn the village was finally liberated for, I think, the third time.
However, we’re all getting together on the 6th in front of the church - the bells will be ringing across most of France, I understand, at the time of 19:44 - picnic first in the park. It may well be happening where you are, if you’re in France this week.
Edit: Just checked, it’s northern France and a few other countries and described here…
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glad you edited… I was getting myself geared up to do a Quasimodo… 
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Interestingly, it looks like there are quite a few villages that are doing this but are not on the “official” map/list - ours is one such - so it may be worth checking with the local mairie to see if it’s happening near you?
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yep, I’ll be in there later this morning and I’ll ask the question…
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If you are in striking distance of Caen, I imagine you’ve been to the Mémorial de Caen museum? We found it incredibly impressive.
@AngelaR I walked to the Mairie and spoke with the Secretaire… I explained that since we are definitely way down South… the bell-ringing might not include us… and if so… no problem.
She promised to check with the Maire …
Seems he’s just got in… and responded with enthusiasm…
The Secretaire has phoned me to say “yes, please…” 
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Excellent! Now just to let the village know 
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It’s a way of being included when people are too far away (or not important enough!) to go to the huge events around Caen.
My father arrived on Sword Beach during the Normandy landings. He never mentioned fighting despite the horrors he must have witnessed. He talked of how they were seasick in the landing craft, grown men crying for their mothers, locals wanting food and especially cigarettes.
His first big action was the battle of Caen, via the recently taken Pegasus Bridge, then fighting up through Amiens to Belgium, Holland and eventually Germany, witnessing the liberation of Bergen Belsen. He ended up in Cuxhaven where Bletchley park decoded the last message from the Germans “Closing down for ever - all the best – goodbye”. (The day before VE day)
Every Christmas after that, for many years, I remember we received a present of chocolates sent by a Madamoiselle Legionette from Amiens. I never did get around to asking who she was!
I related this story to my neighbour here in France whose elderly mother was visiting at the time. She said she was a child of 14 years old during the siege of Caen. She especially remembered an English soldier giving her a cigarette. At which point, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
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Yes indeed, also the museum of civilian life in Falaise, which has oral history recorded by local people (including some of our neighbours).
That’s very interesting @EmilyA - thanks for that! I shall make a point of visiting it.
(updated 4th June)
I’m sure there will be local information, for those “up North” but this link does give some general guidance on how things are being planned…
Been watching the commemoration event at Southsea front on the TV earlier. Have to admit to shedding more than a few tears when hearing the old boys speak about their fallen comrades. Charles, Camilla and William were there.
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