About the contributor

Where do you begin ? I was born 5th June 1964 20 years to the day the boys set off. I have an Aunt , born 5th June 1944.So It is a special date for many reasons. Many of my family like Grandparents, Uncle's & others were in all of the forces. Others too old or in other work, joined the home guard, fire and other services.They related many things to me about the war at home and abroad. I don't think there is a country, sea or ocean, where a relative now rests. We paid in full for freedom & tipped the waiter to boot Gramps once said. D-DAY is special, because we remembered it and celebrated my birthday at the same time. I was acutely aware that I could grow up without fear due to the efforts and the deeds of those working to liberate the world.One uncle's searved in the RAF, one Polish, escaped occupation and joined up on reaching Britain. He returned to Europe in a Spitfire, he was an Angel on their shoulders. My Grandfather was an engineer, could not join up as his skills were too vital to loose. Able to write & read engineering plans and blue prints, liks a kid reads a comic book !He designed & built the craft, bridges and equipment that took our boys in. Making it possible to "Kit" assemble them in vast numbers. He died in 1995 , but still felt bad because he was not on active service ? He still worried if defective rivets or welding on landing craft had been a factor in them being blown up, or poor plating the cause of bullets & shells going through ? That any defective work might have caused harm to our boys. I explained that he did his best, so when I see D-DAY footage, I see gramp's engineering going in to France.I Say with pride "Wonder if Gramps built that one "?. He said it, as he worried equipment may have failed. World War II still lives with us all in many ways. I don't want those stories to be forgotten. My kids & I live freely because so many gave it all up for us. Thank you is 2 small words that seem inadequate. But a deal of emotion, love and nothing but sheer respect and pride for those who took part,is the weight of force behind those 2 words. Thank you ! for our life in freedom.