Day 1 - Saturday, October 19th
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We set off at 5:30am from the Scout Hut, on our way to the Channel Tunnel. Due to delays earlier on, we had to start our journey 2 hours later than expected. We arrived in Calais at 11:00am then set off. It was a long journey down to Normandy and due to the lateness of the train, we had to postpone our first visit to the Merville Germany Battery site so went straight on to the bridge at Ranville-Benouville. We arrived at the Bridge feeling very tired but glad to get out of the bus.
This bridge is called Pegasus after the 6th Airborne Division that liberated it on the night of the 5th/6th June 1944.
The bridges over the Canals were planned to be taken by men dropped into the area from Gliders. These Gliders were called Horsa Gliders and were designed to be used only once for this one action, so they were made from plywood and therefore not very strong. The Gliders were pulled along by planes and once they had released the Gliders, the planes flew back to Britain. The Gliders were able to carry men as well as vehicles and guns.
These Gliders, like all other aircraft flying on D-Day, were painted with three large white stripes in order for them to be recognised as Allies. This was to stop the many planes being hit by ‘friendly fire’. Unfortunately, on that night, a terrible storm blew up and many of the parachutists were blown well off course. The Gliders were attacked by enemy fire. The first phase went well and at 20 minutes past midnight, three Gliders landed within metres of their objective. Ten minutes later with bagpipes playing, the Bridge was secured.
Day 2 - Sunday, October 20th
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On our second day, we managed to get some time to look around the Gun Battery at Merville. The area had been unsuccessfully bombed so it had to be taken from the ground. This was where another Battalion of men, the 9th Battalion, should have landed but:
The 9th Battalion, however, was not so lucky.
A total of 700 men were due to land in the Ranville area, and some 500 of these had the objective of capturing the German Gun Battery at Merville. Only 150 were able to attack as the troops were scattered over a wide area or were shot before landing, with the heaviest weapon being one single machine gun and some hand grenades, they had to fight their way through shelling, barbed wire and land mines. Eventually, just 75 men were able to capture the Battery and survive.
From the Merville Battery, we carried on to the village of Aromonches les Bains. This is the site of the 360º Cinema which shows actual footage of D-Day. The Troops were deliberately not landed on this beach as it was to be left clear for an artificial harbour to be built. This was the Mulberry Harbour known as Port Winston.
The Harbour was intended to be used for only three months but lasted 5 and there are still some sections to be seen today. It was built by the Royal Engineers, who still have a base here in Chatham. They built floating roadways to allow tanks, vehicles and men to land on the Beaches.
This was an old soldier who told a tale of his experience on the Beach.
Our day turned out to be very busy as we now had to travel to Aromanches after lunch to the American Beach of Omaha, to the site of the American Cemetery.
We arrived at Omaha Beach at 4:45pm just before the Cemetery was due to close at 5:00pm. They allowed us in and above is a portion of what we saw.
Day 3 - Monday, October 21st
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Day Three saw us move on to the Cemetery at Ranville. This is where a lot of British soldiers were buried. Including that of the youngest killed in D-Day (private R. Johns) and the first to lose his life on D- Day (Lt. Herbert Brotheridge).
This is where we laid a wreath and said a prayer of thanks to all those who bravely did what they had to, to allow us the freedom we have today, both those in the armed forces and civilians too.
Our next visit was to the Juno Beach, site of the Canadian landings.
Day 4 - Tuesday, October 22nd
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On our fourth day we made one last visit to the British landing beach called Gold.
I really loved our trip to Normandy with the Scouts. It was really interesting finding out about so many amazing places, my favourite place was the Gold Beach where the British landed. It was so quiet and beautiful there.
I think the soldiers were very brave and some were so young - too young to die.
And then on to the Bayeaux Activity Park.
Thanks very much to Group Scout Leader, Julia Richardson for sending us this write up of their trip which was written and presented to parents by the Scouts themselves.
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