walking on the beaches of normandy

as i walked along the beaches of one of the most major battles of world war two i could not help the feeling of awe as i pictured in my mind how it must have been for all those young soldiers who where on the many ships waiting to bring them over what they had had to face once the ramps of the landing craft whent down after being on the ships for many hours.i noticed how long and how far it was from the waters edge to the roadways some 5/600yards of wet sand and fear you could almost feel the fear and in my mind hear the pounding of the guns and the rifle fire you could imagine the shouts of the soldiers weather they were wounded or shouting orders,as i walked further down the beach juno you can see where the houses were built before the invasion and now just blank empty spaces each with its own story to tell sometimes it felt as though i was walking in a ghost town at times i stopped and sat just looking around wondering what it was all about (the war)and i could imagine the vehicals coming ashore in their hundreds of all shapes and sizes guns tanks and even bikes then i could imagine the rows upon rows of troops invading the beaches a sight i am sure you will agree we will never see the like again,as i walked even further a stark reminder of those days the monuments to those who fallen relics on the side of the roads and beaches another reminder of those days,i carried on a few yards and i saw something that toched me deeply a young child of about 10/11years old wrote in the sand thank you for what you have done i thought that was the nicest thing i have everseen and i will never forget that i did notice a strange thing on my way towards gold beach i hardly saw any sea birds on the beach or the roadways why i do not know as it was in september and quite sunny and warm this was the 28th as i came to the end of juno i made my way to gold beach from sword beach to gold beach for me was very moving indeed treading in the footsteps of those who fought and died there gave me a sense of great pride and proudness to be there a lifes ambition as i approached the end of gold beach i saw the greatest acheivment of all times i think the man made harbour what a peice of engineering of those times there again now there as a reminder of those dark days of 1944 along the beaches of normandy.
i then finished my walk with a well earned cup of french coffee with my two d day veterans and the owner of the caf'e after that we made our way back to our hotel.the next day i along with my two veterans les and bryan made my way to pegasus bridge and i was to meet them there and when i saw this bridge and learned that this was the start of the invasion i could not believe the workmanship put into the bridge it was fantastic i had met the owner of the gondree cafe and she presented me with a welcom pint of beer and also signed a card for me to which i have in my display cabinet now along with my other bits and bobs for my display i walked around the bridge and museum and where the three gliders landed within 50ft from the bridge we stayed for about two hours and then moved on to ranville cemetary by this time it was the end of the day around 6pm so we made our way back to our hotel

regards

peter oliver

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