70 Ans Après/70 Years On

Centaur tank Mk IV 'Vidette' at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. 200_3_P1050647CE

Statue of Brigadier James Hill at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. Brigadier Hill was a founder of the Parachute Regiment and commanded the 3rd Parachute Brigade at the Normandy landings and in the subsequent campaign. 200_3_P1050644E

25 pounder field gun at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. 200_3_P1050640R

Centaur tank Mk IV 'Vidette' at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. 200_3_P1050649R

Centaur tank Mk IV 'Vidette' at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. 200_3_P1050650R

In this view west across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with its steady stream of traffic. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050660R

In this view west across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with its steady stream of traffic. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050662R

In this view west across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with the Café Gondrée amongst the buildings in the background. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050667R

The tranquillity of today's scene between the Caen Canal and the River Orne belies the fury of 6 June 1944. The larger markers in the centre of this picture mark the landing sites of Horsa gliders in the critical operation to secure Pegasus and Horsa bridges ahead of the main D-Day invasion. A third is obscured by foliage. The bust is of Major John Howard who commanded the operation. To wander around this area today with the freedom bought by the bravery and lives of those involved in the remarkable glider-borne assault is a very moving experience. 200_3_P1050669E

The tranquillity of today's scene between the Caen Canal and the River Orne belies the fury of 6 June 1944. On the bank of the Caen Canal itself stands this memorial marking 'the first part of France to be liberated' . To wander around this area today with the freedom bought by the bravery and lives of those involved in the remarkable glider-borne assault and the subsequent actions is a very moving experience. 200_3_P1050670R

At the site of the glider landings stands this bust of Major John Howard who commanded the critical operation to secure the bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne, later known as Pegasus and Horsa bridges, prior to the main invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. 200_3_P1050671E

In this view across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with the bust of Major John Howard and the marker for the landing site of his glider to the right of the picture. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050692

In this view across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with the Les 3 Planeurs café amongst the buildings in the background. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050682C

At the north west corner of Pegasus Bridge stands the café Les 3 Planeurs (The 3 Gliders). The garden of the café is a very good place to sit and reflect upon how the freedom to do so was won. The area which saw so much strife only 74 years ago is very beautiful and peaceful today although the Bofors 40mm gun in the foreground is a sobering reminder of the past. 200_3_P1050707R

The thing which unites the Normandy sites I have visited is their notable tranquillity and beauty today, a contrast to the violent history of the recent past. Nowhere is this more true than at Batterie de Longues, a stark part of Germany's Atlantic Wall in WWII and now a protected natural site. Four gun emplacements remain today, a little inland above the cliffs, together with other, lesser structures closer to the sea. This is the second in line when walking from the car/coach park; the first is closed but the others are open to explore with care. A simple and fading plaque is attached to this structure (see note). Its simplicity cannot convey all that took place between the 6th and 7th of June 1944, events which should never be forgotten. I recommend a circular walk to take in all four, continuing clockwise along the cliff line to return to the parking areas. 200_3_P1050764E

The thing which unites the Normandy sites I have visited is their notable tranquillity and beauty today, a contrast to the violent history of the recent past. Nowhere is this more true than at Batterie de Longues, a stark part of Germany's Atlantic Wall in WWII and now a protected natural site. Four gun emplacements remain today, a little inland above the cliffs, together with other, lesser structures closer to the sea. This is the first in line when walking from the car/coach park and is closed but the others are open to explore with care. I recommend a circular walk to take in all four, continuing clockwise along the cliff line to return to the parking areas. 200_3_P1050763E

The thing which unites the Normandy sites I have visited is their notable tranquillity and beauty today, a contrast to the violent history of the recent past. Nowhere is this more true than at Batterie de Longues, a stark part of Germany's Atlantic Wall in WWII and now a protected natural site. 200_3_P1050789E

The thing which unites the Normandy sites I have visited is their notable tranquillity and beauty today, a contrast to the violent history of the recent past. Nowhere is this more true than at Batterie de Longues, a stark part of Germany's Atlantic Wall in WWII and now a protected natural site. Four gun emplacements remain today, a little inland above the cliffs, together with other, lesser structures closer to the sea. The first, when walking from the car/coach park, is closed but the others are open to explore with care. A simple and fading plaque is attached to the second structure. Its simplicity cannot convey all that took place between the 6th and 7th of June 1944, events which should never be forgotten. I recommend a circular walk to take in all four, continuing clockwise along the cliff line to return to the parking areas. 200_3_P1050765