OUR NORMANDY EXPERIENCE INCLUDING D DAY ACTIVITIES
MEMBERS OF THE 15 WW2 VEHICLE ANZAC CONVOY 2009 LANG KIDBY EXPEDITION
LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT!
Article written by Karen Bracken 7th June 2009 (for more details see www.anzacconvoy.blogspot.com)
A visit to Normandy needs to be at least a week’s duration. Get yourself into some “digs” in Bayeux and rent a little run around. Come for the week long celebrations 1-7 June. Most of the villages in the area are twinned with an English village and hold relevant memorial services related to acts of bravery, liberation, outstanding military events and famous battles associated with the liberation of France from German occupation in WW2. If you can spend a week prior to “D Day” week familiarizing yourself with the terrain and glancing through the museums your trip would be even better.
This was our first ‘Normandy experience’ and it’s certainly wonderful to be able to say we did it in a 1942 Chevy 4X4 SWB troop carrier of the type used in WW2. We visited many of the museums, cemeteries, bunker sites, camps, beaches, townships and battlefields, all poignant reminders of the horrors of war.
There are so many activities going on leading up to and including “ D Day” that you need to do a prior check of appropriate websites and choose which you would like to be a part of. A Sat Nav and accurate map of the area is essential.
Make this summertime period your preferred time to visit. Villagers are encouraged to beautify their gardens and homes. Pro French sentiment is obvious with flags flying from their houses with some even using paint to detail in the red, white and blue theme. (We only noticed one Australian flag flying from a window.) Four flags dominate those flying from public buildings, French, Normandy, US and British.
By sharing the Reine Mathilde campground at Etreham with the British MVT we were able to enjoy good company of like minded vehicle enthusiasts. If it were possible for us to join in any of their planned activities we did so. Many new friendships were forged between us.
Neither of us came with any preconceived experience of the area and as the scale of it evolved we realized that without prior planning to guide us we should just go with any forthcoming offers made from fellow campers.
Our Itinery for the week:
Visit to Port en Bessin where we saw a WW2 motorbike on the beach. Visit to Wrecks museum and later on welcomed (videoed) arrival of BVT members at Etreham camping site
Visit to Grand Camp Maisy the German bunker and later on the German Cemetery
Vierville open air market for military merchandise, met the French contingent in the US camp and Norge. Omaha Beach museum, drive on beach, and saw Willem Poelsma and family in his duc.
Village convoy trip to Baron sur Odon with British MVT
British paratrooper drop at Pegasus Bridge and sight seeing along the western beaches, sword, juno, gold with Henri de Wailly. Watching the fireworks at Port en Bessin
Arromanches beach with the Normandy Veterans Association and Asnelles. D Day banquet at the Chateau de Amaye sur Seulles
US Paratrooper drop at St Mere Eglise with Henri de Wailly
Bayeux Cathedral
Thankfully, we had good, clear, sunny days until the deluge around 4.30 pm on D Day itself. If it’s normally “raining, or thinking about it” in Normandy, we were blessed.
It’s the little extraordinary things which happen and “make” it for you, like the presentation of two clips full of spent 303 cartridges given to us by Jeffrey Wilson MVT of Somerset. Jeffrey wanted to give back the bullets which were marked “small arms factory No 2 Footscray, Melb, Aust” on them.
Also, we kept a mock auction going with Dick Shepard MVT for his Pioneer Chicago Generator, which he’d thrown on top of his “fixed” load of equipment on the GMC.
What about the lunch break we shared with a group of US visitors who were amused that they had “bum rushed“ our table. Turned out to be Major Ted Deguzman (AF) and his son, from a B52 command and Dan Caster a former pilot and others.
Or, accidentally coming across the French contingent camped in the US camp where they had a totally original WW2 field hospital set up on display. We were very surprised to once again bump into Serge Levy there who most generously chauffeured us around the camp in his Dodge command car.
Sadly, as is a sign of the harsh economic times, numbers were down on the former anniversary year in 2005. Serge said “5 years ago the sight was full!” It was virtually empty. Preston Isaac of the MVT said of the 298 members coming, 235 had registered.
There was no shortage of veterans around. There was a large number of British Veterans to meet and thank at Pegasus Bridge and also assembled on D Day at Arromanches for the address by the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. We met leading seaman Royal Navy, Ron Black and petty officer Les Stuart, also Richard Paxman from the diesel room. One veteran told us “5 years ago when we were here we were completely surrounded by people coming up and congratulating us and wishing us well, and this time there’s one or two like yourselves.” Ken Howes and Frederick Wright were two other veterans who we met at the German Cemetery.
We’d had plenty of warning that traversing the “beaches” area on D Day would be extremely restricted due to road blocks strategically placed for the Presidential visit by Barrack Obama.
Sadly, we missed the dawn vigil on the British/Canadian beach at Asnelles attended by 30 MVT vehicles. We did however convoy to Asnelles and then onto the beach convoy to Arromanches for a huge assembly of vehicles including the146 WW2 bikes for the “Guinness World Record” attempt. A huge crowd of Normandy Veterans (more than there were seats for) were waiting for Gordon Brown to address them.
I learnt a lot about a British Veteran in a short while as I caught him sitting alone for a moment. Ex NCO Sergeant Major Richard Jones 85 years old from Shropshire, UK, was a D Day veteran. At the time he was with 282 GT Coy 8th Beach Group and landed at Juno Beach on 6th June 1944. Volunteering at 19 years of age, he was put in the 3rd Canadian Division to come over for engagement in France. Dick was a driver and remembers driving a 3 ton K5 Austin 4x4 ammunitions carrier. Three months before the end he went to Burma with the Scots Guards. It was a privilege to meet you Dick, thanks for coming over to help us commemorate this event, all the very best to you.
A wonderful D Day banquet at the Chateau d’Amaye at sur-Seulles owned by Anna and Frank put the finishing touch on a fun filled week touring around in Yankee Joe! A 1944 D Day theme complete with a banquet of pheasant decorated meat pressings, wines, cheeses and red, white and blue meringue pyramid will forever remain in our thoughts.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Journeys End at Stowmarket, U K
Karen driving Yankee Joe
David and Maggie Mottram in their Chevy
John and Fiona in their Ford
Photos taken and supplied by John Blackman from Classic Military Vehicles taken on D Day on beach at Asnelles whilst the Anzac convoy was part of the British MVT convoy. With Thanks from Karen.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
WORLD WAR I BATTLEFIELDS and MEMORIALS
Dieppe - unfortunately the War Museum was closed on Mondays!
Amiens - had a great look around this beautiful city.
Still having troubles with the truck. The right hand axle came loose again today. May have to try it without a gasket to try and clamp it up tight.
Mick and Graham also did a starter in their jeep. This one sheered a bendix bolt. Hitting the starter while it's in gear doesn't help especially with a 12 v battery and a 6 v starter, as can happen to anyone. Mick borrowed a spare starter from Tony Comber.
Wednesday 10th June 2009
WESTERN FRONT MEMORIALS
The past couple of days have been sunny, but showery and windy, not the best for sight seeing, but not too cold.
Travelling from grave site to grave site is a sobering experience but one you should undertake in your life time if you can. Of course the Western Front is where my Grandfather Frederick William Perkins was awarded his "Military Medal" so I keep this in mind as we drive along.
Starting at the Australian War Memorial at Le Hamel, then on to Villers Brettoneux and then stopping at the underground tunnels of the Somme War Museum at Albert. Next was the memorial at Pozzieres and the Windmill.
We raced on to Ypres to hear the playing of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, arriving at 4.30 for 5.00 pm, but it turned out to the 8.00 pm; entering the very busy motorway at Bapaume and exiting it at the Belgium border to find Ypres. Lieutenant Feney explained that there were 100 soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment attending the service. The buglars were joined by 3 young army cadets from Cornwall aged, 13, 14 and 15. This daily service has been held since 1928, only stopping for the war years. The Menin Gate Memorial honours 58,000 soldiers for whom there are "no graves, no bodies" from WW1, and is treated with absolute dignity.
I drove most of the day today, you know why, Dale reckons they've gone square now.
LOCKED OUT OF THE CAMPING GROUND!
Another muck up with the GPS (Dave), due this time to the confusion over which country we were in, led to our arrival at the Le Mont Noir camp site at 10.30 pm. The farewell party was nearly over. Sam Cutejar won the crazy hat competion with his "halo" which he'd fashioned from a coat hanger. We thought his wife Lorraine should've won it, as "Mrs Bucket" in her WW2 canvas water bucket. Mick and Graham's matching peasant's hats appeared to be the Romanian equivalent to our Akubra. Fiona Hedges was also a close contender in her Greek Fez. The difficult job of judging was given to Rick Cove.
Thursday 11th June 2009
LOADING THE CONTAINER IN ANTWERP
Today was the first day of the trip that I woke early at 5.00 am. We were outside the camping park due to our getting lost and getting back after "lock out" the night before. Perched on the side of the road and on a steep hill, I was worried we were going to 'take off' down the hill.
So we left at 7.45 am and made a bee line for Antwerp on the busy A17 making only one orientation error and luckily being directed straight back by the GPS (Dave). The foggy conditions lifted to cold driving winds. It was through blinding rain in extremely heavy traffic of mostly semi-trailers that we drove around the Antwerp ring road to the St Job In't Goor camp site. This was the first time we'd seen arrow markers in the truck lane with road signs instructing trucks how many arrows were needed between them to allow a safe driving distance at varying speeds.
JEAN BAPTISTE MALFAISON
After breaking the back of the cleaning of the truck at a car wash, we commuted by bus and then by tram into Antwerp to the City Hall to look up Dale's birth father in the register. Nothing was conclusive, but it looks as if his full name was Jean Baptiste Florimond Malfaison, born on 25th May 1921 in Bressoux. In 1948 he married Delphina Spenders and died in 1983. If we apply for his birth certificate in Liege and find that his father's name was Georges Marie Malfaison then we would be certain and could seek out either Delphina or see if they had any children.
The thought of having to ship out the next day with wet tarps was depressing; we were assured that the next day would be fine for loading. Just as we were thinking how lucky we were to have everything dry, suddenly, without warning we had a hail storm followed by a massive rain storm with deafening thunder. Fortunately the next day was glorious sunshine, perfect for drying and sorting everything out.
Friday 12th June 2009
STUDEBAKER SALE
Shipping out had been arranged for eight of us by Hans Sprangers and we started rolling up for final jet washing and loading in at a nearby holding yard at 8.30 am. Sam and Lorraine Cutejar chose the same depot to hand over their Studebaker. Hans and Marcel De Vrij were two extremely happy men with their purchase for 12,000 euro of such an original rare beast. We didn't see another at Normandy. It was a magic moment for Marcel as he drove away.
JOURNEY'S END
Then the first group was ready for departure. They all set off together dragging their possessions behind them as they walked to the bus stop to go to Antwerp and then on to Brussells. Someone reckoned they looked like a gaggle of geese going along! Lorraine Cutejar said, "I feel homeless, for the first time in my life, I feel like a homeless person!"
The Kiwis completed loading their container and were picked up by Jim and Sandy Sewell to return to the campsite.
Dale and I unceremoniously set off for the one km trudge to the bus stop. Within one hour we had boarded a second train to Brussels, before boarding the Euro Star for the "two hour" journey to London to stay with Dale's sister Lynne in Stowmarket.
The consensus seemed to be that we were all "over it" by the past few days. The return to colder clime and the on and off again rain hadn't helped and we were all looking forward to going home for a few creature comforts.
Amiens - had a great look around this beautiful city.
Still having troubles with the truck. The right hand axle came loose again today. May have to try it without a gasket to try and clamp it up tight.
Mick and Graham also did a starter in their jeep. This one sheered a bendix bolt. Hitting the starter while it's in gear doesn't help especially with a 12 v battery and a 6 v starter, as can happen to anyone. Mick borrowed a spare starter from Tony Comber.
Wednesday 10th June 2009
WESTERN FRONT MEMORIALS
The past couple of days have been sunny, but showery and windy, not the best for sight seeing, but not too cold.
Travelling from grave site to grave site is a sobering experience but one you should undertake in your life time if you can. Of course the Western Front is where my Grandfather Frederick William Perkins was awarded his "Military Medal" so I keep this in mind as we drive along.
Starting at the Australian War Memorial at Le Hamel, then on to Villers Brettoneux and then stopping at the underground tunnels of the Somme War Museum at Albert. Next was the memorial at Pozzieres and the Windmill.
We raced on to Ypres to hear the playing of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, arriving at 4.30 for 5.00 pm, but it turned out to the 8.00 pm; entering the very busy motorway at Bapaume and exiting it at the Belgium border to find Ypres. Lieutenant Feney explained that there were 100 soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment attending the service. The buglars were joined by 3 young army cadets from Cornwall aged, 13, 14 and 15. This daily service has been held since 1928, only stopping for the war years. The Menin Gate Memorial honours 58,000 soldiers for whom there are "no graves, no bodies" from WW1, and is treated with absolute dignity.
I drove most of the day today, you know why, Dale reckons they've gone square now.
LOCKED OUT OF THE CAMPING GROUND!
Another muck up with the GPS (Dave), due this time to the confusion over which country we were in, led to our arrival at the Le Mont Noir camp site at 10.30 pm. The farewell party was nearly over. Sam Cutejar won the crazy hat competion with his "halo" which he'd fashioned from a coat hanger. We thought his wife Lorraine should've won it, as "Mrs Bucket" in her WW2 canvas water bucket. Mick and Graham's matching peasant's hats appeared to be the Romanian equivalent to our Akubra. Fiona Hedges was also a close contender in her Greek Fez. The difficult job of judging was given to Rick Cove.
Thursday 11th June 2009
LOADING THE CONTAINER IN ANTWERP
Today was the first day of the trip that I woke early at 5.00 am. We were outside the camping park due to our getting lost and getting back after "lock out" the night before. Perched on the side of the road and on a steep hill, I was worried we were going to 'take off' down the hill.
So we left at 7.45 am and made a bee line for Antwerp on the busy A17 making only one orientation error and luckily being directed straight back by the GPS (Dave). The foggy conditions lifted to cold driving winds. It was through blinding rain in extremely heavy traffic of mostly semi-trailers that we drove around the Antwerp ring road to the St Job In't Goor camp site. This was the first time we'd seen arrow markers in the truck lane with road signs instructing trucks how many arrows were needed between them to allow a safe driving distance at varying speeds.
JEAN BAPTISTE MALFAISON
After breaking the back of the cleaning of the truck at a car wash, we commuted by bus and then by tram into Antwerp to the City Hall to look up Dale's birth father in the register. Nothing was conclusive, but it looks as if his full name was Jean Baptiste Florimond Malfaison, born on 25th May 1921 in Bressoux. In 1948 he married Delphina Spenders and died in 1983. If we apply for his birth certificate in Liege and find that his father's name was Georges Marie Malfaison then we would be certain and could seek out either Delphina or see if they had any children.
The thought of having to ship out the next day with wet tarps was depressing; we were assured that the next day would be fine for loading. Just as we were thinking how lucky we were to have everything dry, suddenly, without warning we had a hail storm followed by a massive rain storm with deafening thunder. Fortunately the next day was glorious sunshine, perfect for drying and sorting everything out.
Friday 12th June 2009
STUDEBAKER SALE
Shipping out had been arranged for eight of us by Hans Sprangers and we started rolling up for final jet washing and loading in at a nearby holding yard at 8.30 am. Sam and Lorraine Cutejar chose the same depot to hand over their Studebaker. Hans and Marcel De Vrij were two extremely happy men with their purchase for 12,000 euro of such an original rare beast. We didn't see another at Normandy. It was a magic moment for Marcel as he drove away.
JOURNEY'S END
Then the first group was ready for departure. They all set off together dragging their possessions behind them as they walked to the bus stop to go to Antwerp and then on to Brussells. Someone reckoned they looked like a gaggle of geese going along! Lorraine Cutejar said, "I feel homeless, for the first time in my life, I feel like a homeless person!"
The Kiwis completed loading their container and were picked up by Jim and Sandy Sewell to return to the campsite.
Dale and I unceremoniously set off for the one km trudge to the bus stop. Within one hour we had boarded a second train to Brussels, before boarding the Euro Star for the "two hour" journey to London to stay with Dale's sister Lynne in Stowmarket.
The consensus seemed to be that we were all "over it" by the past few days. The return to colder clime and the on and off again rain hadn't helped and we were all looking forward to going home for a few creature comforts.
Monday, June 8, 2009
We'll Meet Again - 65th NORMANDIE AU REVOIR
WE HAD A GREAT TIME!!
We're just said our passionate farewells to the good people we have met here at the camping ground at Etreham. With heavy hearts we grab the last minute photo shoots, exchange clothing and souveniers, hugs and kisses. Goodbye, Au Revoir, - till we meet again!
When we can we'll do a big wrap up on Normandy!
PUT BAYEUX ON YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY
The Cathedral is breathtaking - actually inspirational. The old town with it's water wheels and canals is simply gorgeous. We didn't see the "tapestry." We'd paid 8 euros each to see through St Mont Michel which we felt was "steep," so I tried to put over a story about driving all the way from Oz in a WW2 truck and that after all we did help them out in the War. I hoped we might qualify for a concession on the 7.20 euro each. (I usually don't have any trouble if I ask for "one and one" because they think I'm Dale's daughter!) "No reductions" she said and we walked out! Around Normandy, there are say 30 museums and at 6 euros each, that would be $720 for two. Tickets to the Moulin Rouge were $720 for two!
WE HAD ANOTHER OF THOSE WONDERFUL CO-INCIDENCES TODAY!
We'd left Bayeux quite late and were having "medium" degree of difficulty finding our way across Caen. For some reason Navman wouldn't let us get on the motorway. The spin off of getting lost is that you discover all of these fantastic landscapes and house styles. "Gingerbread houses in Disneyland," Dale reckons. Some of them have roofs resembling thick royal icing draped over a good fruit cake.
Well, we passed over "the world's largest suspension bridge" followed by an equally magnificent bridge which looked like the Olympic Stadium in Paris with it's rolling curves. Getting off the toll road by accident and finding ourselves being flagged over by two Belgium Pattondriver trucks (a dodge 3/4 tonner and a GMC driven by Jos Knapen).
What do you reckon? One of them, Nick, had seen the Yankee Joe advertisement on Milweb and had emailed me for a price! It was such fun to see them all "under the bonnet" and under the truck. They were fascinated by the 5 speed Dyna/Toyota gearbox conversion. Nick couldn't believe the 216 had done 6,400 kms on 4 litres of oil without missing a beat. He said to Dale "a secondhand engine, didn't you rebuild it for the journey?" Dale said "No, I changed the oil."
They didn't have any coffee, and were trying to make Antwerp with only only one more day - 400 kms. So we convoyed with them for awhile before they turned south towards Rouen. They took details of Dale's (real) father and promised to help us find him!
HOW WELL ARE WE DOING?
Well every now and again as Dale is trying to do a U turn (yet again), he slams the truck into 2nd and yells "I've had enough of this crap, I've a mind to scrap it (the truck) and fly back home!"
ANOTHER TRUCK HITS THE DUST!
Lang's starter motor gave up just outside the Etreham camping ground, and he had to get a push start. He ran into Adrian Snell from the MVT, his hands dripping with oil as he carried the starter along. We'd been with Adrian to the Swap Meet at Vervuille, opposite the US campsite, where we'd seen all the "starters" and said "if only you needed one." Adrian took Lang to the swap, bought the starter for 150 euro and he's back on the road!
We're just said our passionate farewells to the good people we have met here at the camping ground at Etreham. With heavy hearts we grab the last minute photo shoots, exchange clothing and souveniers, hugs and kisses. Goodbye, Au Revoir, - till we meet again!
When we can we'll do a big wrap up on Normandy!
PUT BAYEUX ON YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY
The Cathedral is breathtaking - actually inspirational. The old town with it's water wheels and canals is simply gorgeous. We didn't see the "tapestry." We'd paid 8 euros each to see through St Mont Michel which we felt was "steep," so I tried to put over a story about driving all the way from Oz in a WW2 truck and that after all we did help them out in the War. I hoped we might qualify for a concession on the 7.20 euro each. (I usually don't have any trouble if I ask for "one and one" because they think I'm Dale's daughter!) "No reductions" she said and we walked out! Around Normandy, there are say 30 museums and at 6 euros each, that would be $720 for two. Tickets to the Moulin Rouge were $720 for two!
WE HAD ANOTHER OF THOSE WONDERFUL CO-INCIDENCES TODAY!
We'd left Bayeux quite late and were having "medium" degree of difficulty finding our way across Caen. For some reason Navman wouldn't let us get on the motorway. The spin off of getting lost is that you discover all of these fantastic landscapes and house styles. "Gingerbread houses in Disneyland," Dale reckons. Some of them have roofs resembling thick royal icing draped over a good fruit cake.
Well, we passed over "the world's largest suspension bridge" followed by an equally magnificent bridge which looked like the Olympic Stadium in Paris with it's rolling curves. Getting off the toll road by accident and finding ourselves being flagged over by two Belgium Pattondriver trucks (a dodge 3/4 tonner and a GMC driven by Jos Knapen).
What do you reckon? One of them, Nick, had seen the Yankee Joe advertisement on Milweb and had emailed me for a price! It was such fun to see them all "under the bonnet" and under the truck. They were fascinated by the 5 speed Dyna/Toyota gearbox conversion. Nick couldn't believe the 216 had done 6,400 kms on 4 litres of oil without missing a beat. He said to Dale "a secondhand engine, didn't you rebuild it for the journey?" Dale said "No, I changed the oil."
They didn't have any coffee, and were trying to make Antwerp with only only one more day - 400 kms. So we convoyed with them for awhile before they turned south towards Rouen. They took details of Dale's (real) father and promised to help us find him!
HOW WELL ARE WE DOING?
Well every now and again as Dale is trying to do a U turn (yet again), he slams the truck into 2nd and yells "I've had enough of this crap, I've a mind to scrap it (the truck) and fly back home!"
ANOTHER TRUCK HITS THE DUST!
Lang's starter motor gave up just outside the Etreham camping ground, and he had to get a push start. He ran into Adrian Snell from the MVT, his hands dripping with oil as he carried the starter along. We'd been with Adrian to the Swap Meet at Vervuille, opposite the US campsite, where we'd seen all the "starters" and said "if only you needed one." Adrian took Lang to the swap, bought the starter for 150 euro and he's back on the road!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Parachute drop at Ste Mere Eglise
US Paratroopers - article to follow!!!!
Henry turned up to pick us up under heavy skies and strong winds. We sped to St Mere Eglise and arrived as it started to pour! As we walked into the village two planes let their paratroopers out at the minimum level of 800 feet! They did their best, but most couldn't jump on the day.
St Mere Eglise is famous for the US paratrooper getting caught up on the steeple as you would have seen in the movie. He survived!!
If you've read some of our "unedited material" you'll understand the trouble I'm having particularly with the French keyboard. I'm a touch typist and with the a, w, z, q, m, x, comma, fullstop, and all punctuation not where it's supposed to be, I get a bit "snootty" about paying 4 euros an hour when 1/3 of my time is spent correcting. We never quit early, we get told "its time to leave because we are closing."
We're feeling the pinch so badly we either eat "MACKERS" or "DONER KEBABS", endearingly refered to by Lang as "bacteria rolls!" Two big Macs cost 7.40 euro and the doner kebabs are under 10 euro. We'll gladly give the Mackers a miss, but will probably go looking for doner kebabs when we get home. "Mustard Nose" is an unpleasant side effect of eating a sausage in baguette here. Try it some time!
Most of the women on the convoy have cooked an evening meal right through, and good for them, but I can boast that I haven't used my saucepan yet and now that the gas bottle is empty we don't even have a cuppa.
It's been windy since leaving Peter Tombs farm, in fact it's turned very cold especially at night and a lot of people are admitting that they are sleeping in their clothes.
Henry turned up to pick us up under heavy skies and strong winds. We sped to St Mere Eglise and arrived as it started to pour! As we walked into the village two planes let their paratroopers out at the minimum level of 800 feet! They did their best, but most couldn't jump on the day.
St Mere Eglise is famous for the US paratrooper getting caught up on the steeple as you would have seen in the movie. He survived!!
If you've read some of our "unedited material" you'll understand the trouble I'm having particularly with the French keyboard. I'm a touch typist and with the a, w, z, q, m, x, comma, fullstop, and all punctuation not where it's supposed to be, I get a bit "snootty" about paying 4 euros an hour when 1/3 of my time is spent correcting. We never quit early, we get told "its time to leave because we are closing."
We're feeling the pinch so badly we either eat "MACKERS" or "DONER KEBABS", endearingly refered to by Lang as "bacteria rolls!" Two big Macs cost 7.40 euro and the doner kebabs are under 10 euro. We'll gladly give the Mackers a miss, but will probably go looking for doner kebabs when we get home. "Mustard Nose" is an unpleasant side effect of eating a sausage in baguette here. Try it some time!
Most of the women on the convoy have cooked an evening meal right through, and good for them, but I can boast that I haven't used my saucepan yet and now that the gas bottle is empty we don't even have a cuppa.
It's been windy since leaving Peter Tombs farm, in fact it's turned very cold especially at night and a lot of people are admitting that they are sleeping in their clothes.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Pegasus Bridge With Henri de Wailly
With what has become typical of our luck, we missed the jump by the British paratroopers because we were inside looking at their beautiful museum, and didn't know another jump was taking place!
HOSPITALITY CLUB
On Saturday night at the fireworks display at Port en Bessin, we were "picked up" by a young Iranian fisherman called Amir. I'm sure he was genuine, but Dale and I weren't familiar with the concept. He wanted to offer us "refuges" for the night. We would sleep at his home (our first night out of the truck sounded great) but would have to bring our own sleeping bags.
I think the idea was that he was moving to Marsellles and would need to accept others free hositality, so he wanted to get some credit points for himself.
LOSER'S CAR!
We'd noticed these cars around which sound like motorbikes. In fact they are a car you are allowed to drive when you've lost all of your points. They are slow and can only carry two people. No one admits to manufacturing them. They are so underpowered that they don't require you to have a licence to drive them. E.g. get booked for DUI and just go and buy one of these. The local opinion is that they are more dangerous underpowered and in the hands of unlicenced, inexperienced drivers. Just go and buy one and ride away like a push bike!
6th June D DAY
I hate to say it, but we didn't get up to convoy to Arromanches beach with the MVT at 5.00am to wait on the beach for the sun to rise. The 27 attending said it was very stirring but a hiccup in the convoy led to members arguing, laying blame, with organisers stressing out and vehicles scattering.
At 10.00am we convoyed with about 77 MVT vehicles from the campsite at Etreham to Asnelles, where we stayed at the memorial until 3.00 pm.
Then we all convoyed along the beach to Arromanches (Mulberry Bay) for a massive photo shoot.
Rob Miller a MVT member had hoped to assemble "65 WW2 bikes for 65 years" and got 146 submitted for a world record attempt.
Many of the bikes were in camp in the "field" at the MVT camp at Etreham. Keith J Leech had his BSA M20 pillion beauty there. Nigel Silver (told me to mention here that he is available!) and Pino Lombardia had their M20s as well as their "air drops" with them. The two of them went for an evening run around camp on the airdrops - noisy lttle critters. Sadly, Nigel's M20 was run into by an "intoxicated" French driver as he was on his way to Normandy. Nigel was fine, stiff with bruised legs, and will be able to rebuild the bike.
The bikes formed part of the display, with reanactments and up to three amphibs floating around in the sea in the background.
There was a huge crowd assembled at the waterfront with hundreds of Veterans. They were hoping that Prince Charlie was going to turn up and when the broadcaster announced that Gordon Brown was coming, a loud "boo" went up. The announcer said, "I'm not asking you to vote for him." It was a shambles, not even enough seats had been provided for the Veterans and the pommies were saying that the British Government hadn't provided for them.
THIS YOU WON'T BELIEVE! US GETTING LOST!
After making our own way to Noyes Bocage we shot off to "find petrol," made a wrong turn on the way back and completely missed the placing of the wreath on the Anzac WW2 Memorial neaq the village. We'd dug out our medals we had especially mounted for the trip to wear on this occasion. My miniatiure set didn't draw any attention, but two people came up to Dale and asked why he was wearing the medals as supposedly they were only for presentations. Dale got out of that by saying he was attending a ceremony later in the day, but the other man thought that Dale shouldn't be wearing Pacific medals in Europe?!
IT RAINED ON OUR PARTY!
Anna had created a garden setting at the Chateau resembling the Yalumba advertisement. Returning from a rest she discovered that it had rained. So instead of arriving to a garden party we were welcomed by Anna and Frank into their rather palatial 18th century Chateau. Their business address is Paris.
White linen, flowers, ornate platters with layers of cold cuts, real pheasants (dead) decorated both ends of the pressed aspic, champagne and the best red and white wines. Mirrors highlighting the tapestries, brocades, maroon marble fireplaces, paintings, clocks, piano, marble staircase, statues, renaissance furniture, with the stiring tones of the music of the forties.
It was a once in a lifetime experience, never to be forgotten, a real privilege. Thank you again Anna and Frank.
We spent the evening with Alejandro Gomez, Marianne, his wife and son, Alejandro, from Paris (formerly from Venezuala). They'd flown in from Paris and were staying in the nearby town of Villers Brocage. Their cab home had to come all the way from Caen at 1.00am, so we offered them a lift in the truck. With three of us lying in the back of the truck, we gave them a ride to remember on that rainy D Day night!
D DAY WRAPUP TO FOLLOW!!
HOSPITALITY CLUB
On Saturday night at the fireworks display at Port en Bessin, we were "picked up" by a young Iranian fisherman called Amir. I'm sure he was genuine, but Dale and I weren't familiar with the concept. He wanted to offer us "refuges" for the night. We would sleep at his home (our first night out of the truck sounded great) but would have to bring our own sleeping bags.
I think the idea was that he was moving to Marsellles and would need to accept others free hositality, so he wanted to get some credit points for himself.
LOSER'S CAR!
We'd noticed these cars around which sound like motorbikes. In fact they are a car you are allowed to drive when you've lost all of your points. They are slow and can only carry two people. No one admits to manufacturing them. They are so underpowered that they don't require you to have a licence to drive them. E.g. get booked for DUI and just go and buy one of these. The local opinion is that they are more dangerous underpowered and in the hands of unlicenced, inexperienced drivers. Just go and buy one and ride away like a push bike!
6th June D DAY
I hate to say it, but we didn't get up to convoy to Arromanches beach with the MVT at 5.00am to wait on the beach for the sun to rise. The 27 attending said it was very stirring but a hiccup in the convoy led to members arguing, laying blame, with organisers stressing out and vehicles scattering.
At 10.00am we convoyed with about 77 MVT vehicles from the campsite at Etreham to Asnelles, where we stayed at the memorial until 3.00 pm.
Then we all convoyed along the beach to Arromanches (Mulberry Bay) for a massive photo shoot.
Rob Miller a MVT member had hoped to assemble "65 WW2 bikes for 65 years" and got 146 submitted for a world record attempt.
Many of the bikes were in camp in the "field" at the MVT camp at Etreham. Keith J Leech had his BSA M20 pillion beauty there. Nigel Silver (told me to mention here that he is available!) and Pino Lombardia had their M20s as well as their "air drops" with them. The two of them went for an evening run around camp on the airdrops - noisy lttle critters. Sadly, Nigel's M20 was run into by an "intoxicated" French driver as he was on his way to Normandy. Nigel was fine, stiff with bruised legs, and will be able to rebuild the bike.
The bikes formed part of the display, with reanactments and up to three amphibs floating around in the sea in the background.
There was a huge crowd assembled at the waterfront with hundreds of Veterans. They were hoping that Prince Charlie was going to turn up and when the broadcaster announced that Gordon Brown was coming, a loud "boo" went up. The announcer said, "I'm not asking you to vote for him." It was a shambles, not even enough seats had been provided for the Veterans and the pommies were saying that the British Government hadn't provided for them.
THIS YOU WON'T BELIEVE! US GETTING LOST!
After making our own way to Noyes Bocage we shot off to "find petrol," made a wrong turn on the way back and completely missed the placing of the wreath on the Anzac WW2 Memorial neaq the village. We'd dug out our medals we had especially mounted for the trip to wear on this occasion. My miniatiure set didn't draw any attention, but two people came up to Dale and asked why he was wearing the medals as supposedly they were only for presentations. Dale got out of that by saying he was attending a ceremony later in the day, but the other man thought that Dale shouldn't be wearing Pacific medals in Europe?!
IT RAINED ON OUR PARTY!
Anna had created a garden setting at the Chateau resembling the Yalumba advertisement. Returning from a rest she discovered that it had rained. So instead of arriving to a garden party we were welcomed by Anna and Frank into their rather palatial 18th century Chateau. Their business address is Paris.
White linen, flowers, ornate platters with layers of cold cuts, real pheasants (dead) decorated both ends of the pressed aspic, champagne and the best red and white wines. Mirrors highlighting the tapestries, brocades, maroon marble fireplaces, paintings, clocks, piano, marble staircase, statues, renaissance furniture, with the stiring tones of the music of the forties.
It was a once in a lifetime experience, never to be forgotten, a real privilege. Thank you again Anna and Frank.
We spent the evening with Alejandro Gomez, Marianne, his wife and son, Alejandro, from Paris (formerly from Venezuala). They'd flown in from Paris and were staying in the nearby town of Villers Brocage. Their cab home had to come all the way from Caen at 1.00am, so we offered them a lift in the truck. With three of us lying in the back of the truck, we gave them a ride to remember on that rainy D Day night!
D DAY WRAPUP TO FOLLOW!!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Churchill Tank Memorial Convoy With the British To Baron sur Odon
Fancy Dan and Helen Dennis and their friends, Michael, Emile, and Ross Prince all turning up at Etreham today.
Sometimes it's afterwards things seem to fall into place and you realize the significance of the event to some people.
HOOKY'S TRUCK "LOADS-A-GRUNT"
Four of our trucks convoyed with the British MVT to Baron sur Odon, and we broke down outside it's town hall. Dale had said he didn't know what to make of the Dodge wrecker owned by Hooky (Mike John) of the Gloucester MVT club. It was a Korean war truck ambulance which had been converted to a wrecker, but when it was summoned to "retrieve" us from the road, it was a " beauty."
Everyone went to work on it and it turned out to be "frosty" points again.
The convoy was led by a Daimler Dingo (owned by Leslie Thacker of Surrey), which depicts a geboa or desert rat, from the 7th Armoured Division which was the favouorite of Field Marshal Montgomery. The Dingo was one of 80 sold to the Biafran Government in 1960. This one broke down whilst being loaded and was returned to the REME workshops, and was left behind!
It was fantastically organised and co-ordinated, and went the hour long journey without breaking or incident. Three outriders on motorbikes did a splendid job, moving ahead to junctions and holding the traffic back to allow for the convoy to process through. They included father and son team, Edward and Simon Bromley, John, and Susie Johnson.
This is a delightful event which takes place on each 5th D Day anniversary between the British and French twinned cities of Baron sur Odon and Chittlehampton. Winning Hill 112, just outside the village was a major strategic victory for the British and an impressive monument featuring a restored Churchill tank together with a battlefield map stands out as a great reminder.
The placement of the Churchill was the brainchild of MVT member Albert Fig and among others, 2,000 pounds was donated by the MVT to the project which was in readiness for the 60th D Day anniversary.
The MVT solemmnises the event by the laying of wreaths on the tank and respecting a minutes silence.
Members of Chittlehampton and locals greet the convoy, enjoy light refreshments, then pile on board the assembled vehicles to convoy to the monument and back again.
This year Richard Jones (Sargent Major) who was enlisted in the British Army from 1939-1945 was again present to lay the wreath to fallen soldiers, and Peter Burne Vice President of the MVT laid another for fallen citizens.
Having the Dodge there for the first time made the event particularly significant to Dan Major (looking resplendent in his officer's uniform) and his family and friends. They are members of the Solvent chapter of the MVT which is mentioned on the dedication plaque.
When we left the convoy with John Hedges to find fuel, we took Mark Hervey's phone number in case we needed help with the Yankee Joe. We went straight back to Bayeux. We thank the MVT members who were concerned about our late arrival back in camp and were considering trying to find us. We thought we'd left the convoy, but should've reported our intention to stay in Bayeux for the evening.
Sometimes it's afterwards things seem to fall into place and you realize the significance of the event to some people.
HOOKY'S TRUCK "LOADS-A-GRUNT"
Four of our trucks convoyed with the British MVT to Baron sur Odon, and we broke down outside it's town hall. Dale had said he didn't know what to make of the Dodge wrecker owned by Hooky (Mike John) of the Gloucester MVT club. It was a Korean war truck ambulance which had been converted to a wrecker, but when it was summoned to "retrieve" us from the road, it was a " beauty."
Everyone went to work on it and it turned out to be "frosty" points again.
The convoy was led by a Daimler Dingo (owned by Leslie Thacker of Surrey), which depicts a geboa or desert rat, from the 7th Armoured Division which was the favouorite of Field Marshal Montgomery. The Dingo was one of 80 sold to the Biafran Government in 1960. This one broke down whilst being loaded and was returned to the REME workshops, and was left behind!
It was fantastically organised and co-ordinated, and went the hour long journey without breaking or incident. Three outriders on motorbikes did a splendid job, moving ahead to junctions and holding the traffic back to allow for the convoy to process through. They included father and son team, Edward and Simon Bromley, John, and Susie Johnson.
This is a delightful event which takes place on each 5th D Day anniversary between the British and French twinned cities of Baron sur Odon and Chittlehampton. Winning Hill 112, just outside the village was a major strategic victory for the British and an impressive monument featuring a restored Churchill tank together with a battlefield map stands out as a great reminder.
The placement of the Churchill was the brainchild of MVT member Albert Fig and among others, 2,000 pounds was donated by the MVT to the project which was in readiness for the 60th D Day anniversary.
The MVT solemmnises the event by the laying of wreaths on the tank and respecting a minutes silence.
Members of Chittlehampton and locals greet the convoy, enjoy light refreshments, then pile on board the assembled vehicles to convoy to the monument and back again.
This year Richard Jones (Sargent Major) who was enlisted in the British Army from 1939-1945 was again present to lay the wreath to fallen soldiers, and Peter Burne Vice President of the MVT laid another for fallen citizens.
Having the Dodge there for the first time made the event particularly significant to Dan Major (looking resplendent in his officer's uniform) and his family and friends. They are members of the Solvent chapter of the MVT which is mentioned on the dedication plaque.
When we left the convoy with John Hedges to find fuel, we took Mark Hervey's phone number in case we needed help with the Yankee Joe. We went straight back to Bayeux. We thank the MVT members who were concerned about our late arrival back in camp and were considering trying to find us. We thought we'd left the convoy, but should've reported our intention to stay in Bayeux for the evening.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Mixing It With The Pomms!
Monday 1st June 2009
Trips today included a visit to Port en Bessin (once again looking for fuel, internet and food) and enroute we discovered the museum of "wrecks." These items have been salvaged from the ocean and are fascinating. A "marinised" tank with it's two propellers intact was one of 32 dumped into the ocean 4 miles out, all but two sunk.
The thought of all those Pommies turning up from the Channel ferry under police motorcycle escort was exciting us all day, and we got a vantage point by the gate amongst some very excited Pommies who were waiting for their vehicle to turn up. They had a bottle of champagne ready and were monitering the convoy's progress by mobile phone every two minutes or so. The 3/4 ton Dodge had taken Mark Hervey and Richard Rixon only 6 months to completely strip down and rebuild and a nice job too, congratulations guys! It was it's first trip and what a welcome Mark received from family and friends. I got some good footage of them arriving once again as they approached, led by a fully equipped Daimler Dingo. There were probably 50 or 60 of them, possibly down by half on previous years due to the financial situation. Sadly one of the motorbikes was hit by a drunk and written off. The rider is okay, but devastated. The driver tried to run away, and had to be forcibly apprehended.
It's been very easy to strike up friendships in the camp and helping Mark's partner Sonja celebrate her birthday with a drink of "calvados" - locally made apple brandy gave us our second hangover.
I noticed a sign "Rappell" 50, kept recurring as we shot through towns and I told Dale I thought we'd been through here before. It means "obey the 50kph speed limit!
Tuesday 2nd June 2009
Today we went touring with another group of Pommies, Steve and Sally Bennett and Mike and Ann Manning and Tony Fitzgerald. They are a lot more involved than us Aussies and it's interesting listening to their take on events which took place.
Today was German day, with a visit to the German War Cemetry where we visited the grave site of Michael Whitman (and his crew) who was the most decorated Tiger tank commander by whom most Allied tanks were taken out. Then, a visit to the area's newest attraction, a German subterranean bunker complex called Grand Camp Maisy or Maisy Armerie. It had one of two radar stations, the other being at Brittany. It was said that three large guns pointed at Omaha beach wouldn't have reached the beach. The complex was said to be totally self contained.
We heard that the Gendarmes were pulling up German dressed motorcylists and checking for swastickers. They were forced to cover them up or threatened to send them back to the UK.
A group of US paratroopers were admiring our Yankee Joe. They told us that bad weather and high winds were expected for the weekend which could sadly, make the big jump unlikely.
Trips today included a visit to Port en Bessin (once again looking for fuel, internet and food) and enroute we discovered the museum of "wrecks." These items have been salvaged from the ocean and are fascinating. A "marinised" tank with it's two propellers intact was one of 32 dumped into the ocean 4 miles out, all but two sunk.
The thought of all those Pommies turning up from the Channel ferry under police motorcycle escort was exciting us all day, and we got a vantage point by the gate amongst some very excited Pommies who were waiting for their vehicle to turn up. They had a bottle of champagne ready and were monitering the convoy's progress by mobile phone every two minutes or so. The 3/4 ton Dodge had taken Mark Hervey and Richard Rixon only 6 months to completely strip down and rebuild and a nice job too, congratulations guys! It was it's first trip and what a welcome Mark received from family and friends. I got some good footage of them arriving once again as they approached, led by a fully equipped Daimler Dingo. There were probably 50 or 60 of them, possibly down by half on previous years due to the financial situation. Sadly one of the motorbikes was hit by a drunk and written off. The rider is okay, but devastated. The driver tried to run away, and had to be forcibly apprehended.
It's been very easy to strike up friendships in the camp and helping Mark's partner Sonja celebrate her birthday with a drink of "calvados" - locally made apple brandy gave us our second hangover.
I noticed a sign "Rappell" 50, kept recurring as we shot through towns and I told Dale I thought we'd been through here before. It means "obey the 50kph speed limit!
Tuesday 2nd June 2009
Today we went touring with another group of Pommies, Steve and Sally Bennett and Mike and Ann Manning and Tony Fitzgerald. They are a lot more involved than us Aussies and it's interesting listening to their take on events which took place.
Today was German day, with a visit to the German War Cemetry where we visited the grave site of Michael Whitman (and his crew) who was the most decorated Tiger tank commander by whom most Allied tanks were taken out. Then, a visit to the area's newest attraction, a German subterranean bunker complex called Grand Camp Maisy or Maisy Armerie. It had one of two radar stations, the other being at Brittany. It was said that three large guns pointed at Omaha beach wouldn't have reached the beach. The complex was said to be totally self contained.
We heard that the Gendarmes were pulling up German dressed motorcylists and checking for swastickers. They were forced to cover them up or threatened to send them back to the UK.
A group of US paratroopers were admiring our Yankee Joe. They told us that bad weather and high winds were expected for the weekend which could sadly, make the big jump unlikely.
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