65 Years Ago

Tatts · 6th June 2009, 07:23

160,000 Brave young men crossed the Channel, by sea and air.

Many never to return. Many to return bearing horiffic physical & mental scars.

I can't imagine for a minute how terrifying it must have been.

God help us if we ever forget them.

stocktake · 6th June 2009, 07:27

65 yr ago, good god, My dad was there. glad I wasn't but would I have been for my country? I would like to think I would.

windrush · 6th June 2009, 07:29

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Simondi · 6th June 2009, 08:00

It makes one realise how much we owe to those men who fought for us all those years ago

Roverowner · 6th June 2009, 08:11

My step father, James (Johnno) Johnstone, (born and bred in Poole), was crewman on a landingcraft (british crew - loaded with yanks). He was 3rd wave in to Omaha. They had to stay on the beach for 4 days before being alowed to go back (Portsmouth). Loaded with POWs. Waffen SS but mostly Wermacht. The ordinary german soldiers tried to kill the SS blokes. Johnno was forced to fire the machine gun over their heads. Somewhere I´ve got a -real colour postcard- of a shot taken over the side of a large transport ship (american) looking down on an overfull landingcraft ready to take off for the beach. On the back of the boat one can make out a little, stocky guy in british naval urinform with his hat on at 3 quarters and a full,black beard. Johnno!

My uncle Jim Cranston from Toll Cross in Glasgow was a Sgt major in the Honourable Artillary Company (no less!) They went into Sword beach. While sitting tight against the sea wall, dondging the -flack- he was ordered to follow a resistance guy to where they wanted his gun set up (if they ever got there). He left his blokes telling them to keep ready for the off, and went to the site. After recog. the place he went back to his men. Getting back to their postition he found them all - brewing up tea!

I was in 2 PARA for 6 years and I´ve -been around- Nothing compared to what these guys put up with. My own dad had -5 days of the war- was captured in Calais in 1940 when his reg (KRRC) got flattened by the german tanks. He said that he spent 5 years -as a guest of th german government- Nearly all of it in Poland.

Hope my sons don´t have to go through this sort of thing again. Alan

Ken · 6th June 2009, 09:42

My uncle went over the night before to help secure the bridges but I never knew until five years ago. He was just my dads elder brother and I never thought about what he did in the war. Now I know he is a hero in my eyes but I wish I had known earlier then I could have said something to him.

They were all very brave men as are the men and woman of today fighting overseas. I salute them.

Bill made it back without injury but he died at 46 of cancer.

Ken

Ken · 6th June 2009, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by stocktake

65 yr ago, good god, My dad was there. glad I wasn't but would I have been for my country? I would like to think I would.

I am sure you would Dave as would the vast majority of us.

ragitty · 6th June 2009, 11:41

And if those brave men and women could see the state of our country now they would turn in their graves.

They gave their all so we could have a better future. god bless them all.

ardvark · 6th June 2009, 12:50

We should NEVER forget. Not only from 65 years ago but from ALL of the great and not so great battles of modern times be it WW1, WW11 and ALL other times since. There are plebs amongst us who say we should forgive and forget because it upsets. NO WAY. Forgive the soldiers because they were following orders no matter what side they were on. BUT never forget. A lot of things went on during those battles and a lot of things were kept quiet. We should NEVER forget ANYONE who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Hear endeth a party political statement on the behalf of the Ardvark party.

Al

sworks · 6th June 2009, 15:28

Thanks for posting this to remind us, It should never be forgotten!

6th June 2009, 07:23	#1
Tatts This is my second home MG6 TL Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tarn Posts: 5,269 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 37 Posts	65 Years Ago 160,000 Brave young men crossed the Channel, by sea and air. Many never to return. Many to return bearing horiffic physical & mental scars. I can't imagine for a minute how terrifying it must have been. God help us if we ever forget them. __________________ http://www.wcgsig.com/115562.gif

6th June 2009, 07:27	#2
stocktake Vis Whiz Rover 75 2.5 auto Saloon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: LEEDS Posts: 20,587 Thanks: 2,057 Thanked 3,056 Times in 1,621 Posts	65 yr ago, good god, My dad was there. glad I wasn't but would I have been for my country? I would like to think I would. __________________ Dave... Lost a few stones and a Gall Bladder and part of a bile duct and all of my dignity in the suppository incident

6th June 2009, 07:29	#3
windrush This is my second home December 2004 Rover 75 2ltr CDTi Connoisseur SE HL Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aldershot Posts: 74,464 Thanks: 2,431 Thanked 3,015 Times in 2,347 Posts	*WE WILL REMEMBER THEM* __________________ ][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] My Pearl Black Beauty Best regards Lilian and Derek Club Member No. 96 / Forum User No. 111 REGISTRATION to the club as a member FREE, FULL MEMBERSHIP is £10 WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

6th June 2009, 08:00	#4
Simondi Regional Secretary MGTF, MG ZS EV Exclusive Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kilwinning Posts: 14,046 Thanks: 1,460 Thanked 3,563 Times in 1,857 Posts	It makes one realise how much we owe to those men who fought for us all those years ago __________________ Simondi FAQ How do you do that? Club Flyers Looking for a car seen in a film or on TV? Fancy a change in colour or wheels - paint configurator OBD - Trip Meter Ultimate Buyers Guide Post YouTube videos

6th June 2009, 09:42	#6
Ken Busy doing nothing! . Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hampshire Posts: 6,373 Thanks: 33 Thanked 44 Times in 16 Posts	My uncle went over the night before to help secure the bridges but I never knew until five years ago. He was just my dads elder brother and I never thought about what he did in the war. Now I know he is a hero in my eyes but I wish I had known earlier then I could have said something to him. They were all very brave men as are the men and woman of today fighting overseas. I salute them. Bill made it back without injury but he died at 46 of cancer. Ken Last edited by Ken; 6th June 2009 at 09:46..

6th June 2009, 08:11	#5
Roverowner Retired CDTi Tourer 2005 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Linköping Posts: 5,023 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My step father, James (Johnno) Johnstone, (born and bred in Poole), was crewman on a landingcraft (british crew - loaded with yanks). He was 3rd wave in to Omaha. They had to stay on the beach for 4 days before being alowed to go back (Portsmouth). Loaded with POWs. Waffen SS but mostly Wermacht. The ordinary german soldiers tried to kill the SS blokes. Johnno was forced to fire the machine gun over their heads. Somewhere I´ve got a -real colour postcard- of a shot taken over the side of a large transport ship (american) looking down on an overfull landingcraft ready to take off for the beach. On the back of the boat one can make out a little, stocky guy in british naval urinform with his hat on at 3 quarters and a full,black beard. Johnno! My uncle Jim Cranston from Toll Cross in Glasgow was a Sgt major in the Honourable Artillary Company (no less!) They went into Sword beach. While sitting tight against the sea wall, dondging the -flack- he was ordered to follow a resistance guy to where they wanted his gun set up (if they ever got there). He left his blokes telling them to keep ready for the off, and went to the site. After recog. the place he went back to his men. Getting back to their postition he found them all - brewing up tea! I was in 2 PARA for 6 years and I´ve -been around- Nothing compared to what these guys put up with. My own dad had -5 days of the war- was captured in Calais in 1940 when his reg (KRRC) got flattened by the german tanks. He said that he spent 5 years -as a guest of th german government- Nearly all of it in Poland. Hope my sons don´t have to go through this sort of thing again. Alan

6th June 2009, 11:41	#8
ragitty I really should get out more....... Jeep Cherokee Orvis Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Leicester Posts: 2,666 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	And if those brave men and women could see the state of our country now they would turn in their graves. They gave their all so we could have a better future. god bless them all. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Dance like no-ones watching

6th June 2009, 12:50	#9
ardvark Al 75 CDTI Tourer Auto Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Studley Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 1 Thanked 69 Times in 48 Posts	We should NEVER forget. Not only from 65 years ago but from ALL of the great and not so great battles of modern times be it WW1, WW11 and ALL other times since. There are plebs amongst us who say we should forgive and forget because it upsets. NO WAY. Forgive the soldiers because they were following orders no matter what side they were on. BUT never forget. A lot of things went on during those battles and a lot of things were kept quiet. We should NEVER forget ANYONE who made the ultimate sacrifice. Hear endeth a party political statement on the behalf of the Ardvark party. Al

6th June 2009, 15:28	#10
sworks Been absent for a while… Rover 75 Tourer, Classic mini Cooper S, Abarth 595 competizione, MG TF and a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cumbria Posts: 13,065 Thanks: 1,033 Thanked 1,686 Times in 1,040 Posts	Thanks for posting this to remind us, It should never be forgotten! __________________ ................................................. 'Marmite' Possibly one of the most famous 75 tourers produced! left the production line as the last of only Three Rover 75 tourers produced in Trophy Yellow. 48 hours later Longbridge closed. The last sold ordered 75 Tourer. Paid for by the Phoenix Four and handed over by John Towers to the Warwickshire Northampton Air ambulance service as a Rapid Response vehicle