70 Ans Après/70 Years On

An office building in Rue du Donjon, Rouen next to the Joan of Arc Tower (see previous photograph) bears this important plaque marking the history of an earlier occupant of the site, a Gestapo building destroyed on 19 April 1944. TZ30_P1020058

The Joan of Arc Tower (or dungeon), La Tour Jeanne d'Arc, in Rue du Donjon and seen here in the background, is the last remaining part of the former Bouvreuil (or Rouen) Castle. The office building in the centre of the photograph occupies the site of a wartime Gestapo building, destroyed on 19 April 1944 and the history is commemorated by a plaque (next photograph) on the part of the building closest to the tower. TZ30_P1020055

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. This plaque commemorates the 177 men who landed here under the command of Commandant P Kieffer in a joint Anglo-French action; several were killed and 33 wounded. 200_P1020552

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. The simple but striking monument 'La Flamme' by Yvonne Guegan is accompanied by stones marking individual casualties in the action here led by Commandant P Kieffer. 200_P1020553

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. An action took place here early on D-Day involving 177 men led by Commandant P Kieffer who is commemorated on this stone. Commandant Kieffer was wounded and initially refused evacuation. He rejoined his unit on 14 June 1944 and later became one of the first of the Free French Forces to enter Paris. 200_P1020554

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. Today's beach is peaceful and clean. It is hard to imagine the scenes of only 70 years ago but shocking to see how exposed the liberators were as they disembarked the landing craft. 200_P1020558

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. Amongst the several memorials at this site, is a stone erected by the people of Ouistreham marking the joint Anglo-French action led by Commandant P Kieffer. 200_P1020560

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. This simple but striking monument 'La Flamme' by Yvonne Guegan is accompanied by stones marking individual casualties in the action here led by Commandant P Kieffer. 200_P1020555_OL

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. A little west of Ouistreham, at Colleville-Montgomery, stands this striking monument bearing the inscription 'notre liberté fut a ce prix' which I would translate elegantly (but not literally) as 'this was the price of our freedom' 200_P1020563

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. Most moving of all was this statue at Colleville-Montgomery 'Piper Bill Millin'. (2013) by Gaëtan Ader. His actions on D-Day under the orders of Lord Lovat were dangerous, considered crazy by German snipers, and inestimably brave and inspirational. The sculpture is beautifully executed and the spirit of the man and his action radiate across the beach 70 years later. This poorly exposed photograph on a rainy day does not do it justice. 200_P1020578

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. Most moving of all was this statue at Colleville-Montgomery 'Piper Bill Millin'. (2013) by Gaëtan Ader. His actions on D-Day under the orders of Lord Lovat were dangerous, considered crazy by German snipers, and inestimably brave and inspirational. The sculpture is beautifully executed and the spirit of the man and his action radiate across the beach 70 years later. 200_P1020568

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. Most moving of all was this statue at Colleville-Montgomery 'Piper Bill Millin'. (2013) by Gaëtan Ader. His actions on D-Day under the orders of Lord Lovat were dangerous, considered crazy by German snipers, and inestimably brave and inspirational. The sculpture is beautifully executed as is clear in this shot and the spirit of the man and his action radiate across the beach 70 years later. 200_P1020574

Bad weather and a schedule change disrupted a trip to the Normandy beaches. I had hoped to visit at least three but managed only Sword at Ouistreham and Colleville-Montgomery. The rain fell on golden sand like tears for the fallen. The monuments there and the atmosphere were moving. Most moving of all was a statue at Colleville-Montgomery 'Piper Bill Millin'. (2013) by Gaëtan Ader. His actions on D-Day under the orders of Lord Lovat were dangerous, considered crazy by German snipers, and inestimably brave and inspirational. This plaque on the plinth explains the events which are commemorated. The spirit of the man and his action radiate across the beach 70 years later. 200_P1020569

The weather on my visit to Sword Beach began to clear only as we prepared for departure from Ouistreham. The most striking views of the day of these now tranquil sands were from the ferry. The view across the port car park and vehicle waiting area reveals nothing of the horror of only 70 years ago. 200_P1020587C

The Grand Bunker, Museum of the Atlantic Wall (Le Grand Bunker, le Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique), Ouistreham. 200_P1020588

The weather on my visit to Sword Beach began to clear only as we prepared for departure from Ouistreham. The most striking views of the day of these now tranquil sands were from the ferry and reveal nothing of the horror of only 70 years ago. 200_P1020596

As Britain prepared to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Lee on the Solent Community Centre was decorated for a series of events to be held 31 May - 6 June. X20_DSCF2713C

As Britain prepared to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Lee on the Solent Community Centre was decorated for a series of events to be held 31 May - 6 June. X20_DSCF2714C