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Tuesday
Left house at the excellent time of 1.30p.m. (Not dark o clock!) Dave having arrived at mines the day before. Picked up Dale, Kyle, Wookie, Joe and Malky. Arrived and left the airport without too much ado, getting to Gatwick without any arrests or deaths.............score!
Tony (a lover not a fighter) picked us up at Gatwick and took us to Portsmouth; cheers mate. After checking into the hotel we went to the pub (surprise surprise). The Grey Icon (previously known as The Icon) and Zane had already arrived, with Dave, Teabag and Steve Hood arriving later. A few pints later bed beckoned.
Wednesday
Up at 5.45am to get organised; then onto the Ferry for 7.30am. Trip over was ok, we even met up with an old friend who is also a Ranger veteran, Lawrence. He was happy to see us and promptly called his “pick up” to let them know to stay at home as he would be arriving at St Mere in a WW2 weapons carrier with us.
Got into St Mere around 1.45pm then dispersed to our various accommodations, where some interesting sleeping arrangements were decided , meeting back up in the square about 5.45pm, everyone looking good and clean shaven, well almost everyone! We then spent an excellent night having a bit of craic with serving American Army, Navy and Air force personnel, including taking one load to UTAH beach another 7 loads had to be content with a drive around St Mere. Those guys (and the odd gal) loved the WW2 vehicles!! It should also be mentioned that we also took groups of German servicemen to be similarly entertained.
Thursday
Up early(ish), as we had arranged to give two groups of American special forces a trip to Utah, So Steve, Warrior, Teabag, Wookie and myself were at the square for 8.00am. I stayed behind and the guys gave them “the tour”. Went back to the Gites, collect the rest of the guys and headed to the Maisey Battery, Grandcamp and then Point de hoc, where we again met the same servicemen that had enjoyed the trip in the morning. A visit to our good friends the Yankees was then made before heading back to the Gites (via the supermarket to load up with “supplies”). A small rest was had and at our Gite we watched some of “Zulu Dawn”. The guys headed back to the square, another good night was had with the Americans and the Vets, then back to bed, minus the “last of the hold outs”, I wonder who they were?
Friday
Headed into St Mere around 11.30am, with everyone splitting up, some going to the military fair, some to the museum, all meeting up later in the square for a few drinks, had a good craic with Allied Airborne Scotland guys amongst many others. Headed home nice and early (big day tomorrow), unfortunately one of the weapons carriers had some problems, which resulted in it having to be left in the camp at St Mere and the rest of us not getting back until midnight.
Saturday
Up at 4.30am, got the entire kit ready, met up with the rest of the guys and headed for Omaha beach, arriving at 5.50am. We formed up on the beach for a church parade attended by over 100 people; the rumours of the beach being closed had appeared to have been grossly exaggerated, glad we tried to get there anyway.
A couple of charges up the beach later, with our comrades from the 29th (not sure if I liked the idea), but the French TV people were very keen and anything that helps the public be reminded of the great sacrifice that was made, must be worthwhile.
We then rested at the beach prior to going on the “Lead the way” march to Longville. This started at 10.00 am. We marched for about a mile, ditched our gas masks and life preservers, then set off in combat order. This was unbelievable, marching through the very country lanes the poor guys fought through 65 years ago. We continued until 11.55am, and then stopped for a rest, and food for those who brought some. We set of again at 12.20pm reaching another rest stop at 1.05pm (felt a LOT longer though); we then waited until 1.40pm for the last section of the march into Longville. We reached “camp” at 02.00pm. A small parade was held, before we set out to re-enact the taking of the village. Being in the actual place at the actual time of day it happened is as close to re-enactment as I am likely to get.
A memorial service was then conducted before we headed to the bar; most of the guys had soft drinks with a couple having some pints. We stayed there for over an hour and a half then headed back to the Gites, the weather was pretty bad, so we had a quiet night in watching the “Great Escape”. Thankfully we were not camping.
What a day though, outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!! Everything I had hoped for, plus more.
Sunday
Long lie today, getting up at 9.50 am, hung about the Gite then watched the Para drop from the garden, complete with a bottle of Stella, amazing.
We then had a lovely lunch, well, when I say a lovely lunch, we had chips, beans and apple pie, unfortunately they were on the same plate as Yogi (keeping one eye on the price) had got them, thinking they were steak pies! We then headed into St. Mere.
This turned out to be a night of highlights starting with meeting lots of American serviceman (again); this included the ones we met on the first night who insisted their first night experience of being driven to Utah made their whole visit and set the tone for one of the best weeks they had ever had (their words not mines). We then met a guy whose grandfather served in France with Paton and had a copy of the prayer and message Paton gave out to his troops at Christmas 1944, a poignant piece of history. The final highlight being the trooper who come up to us and said “I don’t know you, but I wish I did, I wish you were my friends, I wish I lived next to you, it would be so Cool, thank you very much for wearing the uniform of those who came before us and sacrificed everything in the pursuit of freedom. Thank you for doing what you do, please don’t stop doing it” he then shook our hands one by one and walked away, a couple of damp eyes were visible as he moved out of sight.
Not much more to be said.
Monday
Went up to the American cemetery in the morning, many of the guys had a tear in their eye (again!) as they walked round but no visit is complete without going there and spending a bit of time contemplating.
In the afternoon we headed up to the friend of our Gite owner, he has an amazing amount of stuff he has dug out of the ground and rivers, unfortunately he also only has one hand after a 20mm shell he was cleaning went off, extensive damage to his abdomen was also visible (he showed us his scars). Some of the stuff was unbelievable including an engine and prop from a C47 down to American and English coins (and everything in-between).
A trip around the Gites and a bit of craic with the lads followed before bed.
Tuesday
Back to Pointe de hoc today and a photo at rudders CP, before heading to the Maisey Battery as 5th Rangers. The weather was shocking but then again, a bit of rain never harmed anyone. We then headed to Longville to say goodbye to the French Rangers. Great news though, when we got back the other dodge was working!!!!!
A bit of time was then spent packing and eating before we headed back into town, it was like a ghost town, so we only had a few bears then went back to the Gite and bed, giving the sickly dodge a little run.
Wednesday
Up early (6.50am) and got everything ready before meeting the other guys, sadly the sick dodge wouldn’t start, so a stressful 45 minutes was had before we set off. Dave and Mick’s poor baby was not running properly so a slow trip to Cherbourg was made. However we got there safely and got on the ferry without any further hiccups. Ferry was nice and soon we docked at Poole, we had to push start the dodge to get her off and we all went our separate ways; unfortunately she (he?) didn’t last long and had to be recovered by the RAC. The “flyers” reached Gatwick early and the nice people of Easyjet transferred us to an earlier flight so I arrived home at 8.15pm. Dave and Wookie waited at my house until Zane and Pete the Icon (he had shaved the grey off) arrived at 11.15pm (that is some trip guys!). Everyone then left and off to bed I went!!!
I have no doubt I have omitted some things that at time of writing have went clear out of my mind, for those who were there forgive me, for those who were not, will hear all the other stories soon enough.
Summary: Unbelievable week, great company, amazing sights, met so many people. I WILL be back!!!!
Rangers
Dale
Liam
Phil (Medic)
Kyle
Zane
Malky
Joe
Wullie
Wookie
Mick Parker
Warrior
Dave
Steve Hood
Yogi
The Grey Icon
