John Sheldon's photos

German big gun placed during the occupation of France so as to defend the Normandy Coast from attack from La Manche / the 'English Channel'. This gun, thankfully out of action forever now, is near Arromanches-sur-Mer / Gold Beach.

This is one of many memorials placed outside the Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. The number of names recorded is horrifying. "The Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War museum and cultural centre located in Normandy, France. The Centre pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War, of which 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy and 359 on D-Day. Opened in 2003 by veterans and volunteers with a vision to create a permanent memorial to all Canadians who served during the Second World War, the Centre’s mandate is to preserve this legacy for future generations through education and remembrance." (The Centre's own website.)

In the Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. Presumably a member of the Canadian forces that landed at Juno Beach in June1944 was responsible for this artwork. [I had to photograph this: Donald has always been my favourite cartoon character, alongside Sylvester the Cat.] DD or Duplex Drive tanks, nicknamed "Donald Duck tanks" were a type of amphibious swimming tank developed by the British during the Second World War. The phrase is mostly used for the Duplex Drive variant of the M4 Sherman medium tank, that was used by the Western Allies during and after the Normandy Landings in June 1944. (Wikipedia.)

This picture of 'Sword Beach' is taken from Collville-Montgomery, looking towards Ouistreham. The strip of coastline code-named Sword Beach for the purposes of the Normandy Landings (D-Day landings) in June 1944 covers the five miles from Lion-sur-Mer to Ouistreham. Here is where British army units, with French and British Commandos, landed on 6th June, 1944.

Buildings near the beach (Sword Beach in the Normandy Landings of June 1944) at Colleville-Montgomery, Normandy, France. A windy day.

The pebbles placed on top of this memorial stone and the candle indicate that this grave is still visited.

Memorial stone for an unidentified German soldier killed in Normandy, probably in 1944. Someone has left an 'In remembrance' token. When I saw this it reminded me of this Babylonian text from 3 or 4 thousand years ago: "You, ghost belonging to nobody, who have nobody to bury you or speak your name, whose name nobody knows ... before Shamash, Gilgamesh, the Annunaki and the ghosts of my family you hereby receive a present, you are honoured with a gift." [Myths from Mesopotamia, Stephanie Dalley, Oxford Worlds Classics]

Scene at the Ranville War Cemetery in Normandy.

The Café Gondrée is a small coffeehouse in the French community of Bénouville. The cafe is located on the west bank of the Caen Canal, at the northwest end of the Bénouville Bridge, now commonly referred to as the Pegasus Bridge. The building was the site of first combat during the D-Day invasion, and is best known for its role commemorating those events. (Wikipedia.)