Sunday 26 June 2016

NORMANDY 2016




 I have just returned from a week in Normandy with a couple of good friends visiting the landing beaches, gun batteries, museums, paying our respects at the many cemeteries and trying to cover as many of the engagements both small and large as far as the Falaise Pocket.

Including the drive from the UK and back we covered 1400 miles and I took a couple of hundred photographs and I am now trying to sort through them all and put the picture to the place which is easier said than done.

I will show a couple of pictures on this blog but it will be too time consuming to start labelling them all. The picture above is looking along SWORD BEACH from inside a bunker/pillbox.


UTAH BEACH

             
 
 
Dick Winters.




 Brecourt Maner.  The Gun Battery would have been dug in along the hedgerow in the background. Whilst we were there, these re-enactors just happened to turn up, so it was perfect timing to have our pictures taken with them. John Warren on the left, our three friends and then myself and Steve Lygo on the right.

 
I think you all should know this place from that famous WW2 war film with the US Paratrooper dangling from the church roof by his parachute.


  

Steve and John in a bunker.




 Remains of the Mulberry Harbour.










When you are setting up your Normandy wargames table, this picture will give you an idea of the size of a typical wall, the farmhouses and villages are like small fortresses.

One of Monty's HQ during Operation Epsom .
 
 John showing the height of the wheatfields.


 River Oden.

 
That's me at Sword Beach.
 
Sword Beach again showing the original house in the black and white photo and how it is today.

 

This landing craft was used in the film Saving Private Ryan.

  










 Falaise Pocket.



 

 

Thank you John and Steve for such a memorable holiday.














24 comments:

  1. A great set of photos, thanks!

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  2. You're a lucky bugger.. that's a lovely part of the world

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  3. Must have been an excellent holiday. Thanks for all those interesting and inspiring pictures.

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  4. Looks like a grand time was had.

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  5. Wow, some excellent photos Pat. Looks like you all had a fantastic time.

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  6. Wow, some excellent photos Pat. Looks like you all had a fantastic time.

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  7. A wonderful set of photo's Pat and thanks! I really do need to visit Normandy someday.

    Christopher

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  8. Glad you had a good time there Pat. I'm lucky enough to have been all along the landing beaches several times and many of the inland sites too. Is Mdme Gondree still serving lovely coffee? Hope so.
    Now you've inspired me to go back again!! ;o)
    Cheers
    Matt

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    1. Thanks chaps.
      Matt, I understand the old lady has passed away.

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  9. Impressive and great pictures Pat!

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  10. Great photos thanks for sharing.

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  11. Great picture report, this appears to have been a fantastic trip!

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  12. Wonderful set of photographs Pat of what must have been a most sensational trip with some good mates, historic sites and just a few beers in the bargain as well. Thanks for sharing. Some fascinating insight into Normandy terrain as well.

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  13. Great pics of a great trip.
    I'm so jealous..never done it.....yet.

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  14. Fantastic photos Pat! What a great way to have a trip away with a couple of mates. I am jealous too!

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  15. Thanks Pat for sharing the photos.

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  16. Wonderful photos Pat! It looks like you had a great time! I still regret not getting to the Normandy beaches during my tour in Germany. Perhaps one day I will make it again across the pond. Cheers!

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  17. Thanks again chaps, as you can guess, I highly recommended Normandy for a holiday.

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  18. Very nicely pictured. Some very evocative images for sure. Always great to do your own research personally rather than relying on the internet of books - just gives a different perspective I imagine.

    THanks for sharing!

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  19. We visited the beaches last year. You are right about the height and thickness of the walls, but sadly we didn't see much bocage, a lot of it has been cleared in the last 50 years

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  20. Thanks for sharing this with us, Pat. Normandy is still one of the top places I have to visit some day.

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  21. I really would like to see those beaches we did Omaha a few years back ...WN72 http://glasgowwarhog.blogspot.com/2019/07/
    Its a must do game really!

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