D-Day 6 June 2009

My gosh we have been busy. I'll put all the pictures here as I can't find my little mouse to do the pasting into the right area.

We have been to Sainte Mere Eglise, Port en Bessin for the fireworks on the night before D-Day, D-Day from Asnelles to Arromanches driving our vehicles in convoy on the beachfront to form up on the beach before the official ceremony later in the day. We couldn't stay around for the whole thing as we had to head off to our garden party at Amaye sur Sieulles, near Villers Bocage, south of Caen. Heavy rain started before we got to Noyers Bocage for an Australian memorial ceremony at the Typhoon Memorial, the only Australian memorial in this region. We were hoping to stop somewhere to change into our special clothes but all we ladies managed was the back of Sam and Lorraine's Studebaker.

I wore an original WWII nurses uniform belonging to a lady from Yass and it was greatly admired and certainly one of the most authentic there. She joined the VAD from Yass NSW in February 1941 and then the Australian Women’s Medical Service in August 1941, serving 2 tours overseas and being discharged in 1947.

Monsieur le Mayor of the area was guest of honour at the ceremony and Fiona was master of music setting up the computer with a recording of the Last Post and Reveille (Rouse) and the reading of the Ode written by Binyon and recited by Lang Kidby.

A quick 8km trip to the village of Amaye and to the lodge for the party. It was originally built as a hunting lodge in the late 1600's and has been added to since that time. A shame about the weather because we were forced inside, instead of enjoying the stunning weather outdoors in the magnificent gardens that we have had for the last 4 weeks or so. What a feast was supplied by Anna and Frank and hugely anticipated by all on this convoy and what a night that turned out to be, every body dressed in period clothing. Thanks to everyone.

By the end of the evening, it was too late to drive the 40-50km back so we slept in the grounds in our ute and then in the morning went back to Sainte Mere Eglise for the mass parachute drop, weather dependant.

It finally happened around 1430. We only stayed for a drop from 5 aircraft, not knowing what else was coming. We heard later there were around another 350-400 dropped.

Back to camp and more rain to learn we had left the back flap of our tent up and there was a great pool of water in there which Graeme and Mick cleaned up for us and very grateful we were too.

Well the Normandy section is now at an end. We head off to Dieppe tomorrow and then up into the Somme Valley where Villers Brettoneux is located. By the end of the week we will be in Belgium and getting the vehicles ready for shipping home.

Bye till next post.