Normandy 44

R

ronk

Lifer
 Durham
We are on our way homewards from the mid Pyrenees area of France and we’re staying in Arromanches where my father landed in early June ´44.

We went to see the Tapestry in Bayeux and then to the Liberation museum where I got a shock , there was a picture on the wall and there was my father! It’s not a 100% perfect picture but it’s him - I’ve sent it to the remaining family members, brother and cousins without a hint or suggestion, and they’ve all said there’s my Dad etc. Even my daughter said, there’s grandad.

I can say it was a bit of a tear jerking moment.
 
What a great story.
Last time I was in Bayeux we had to leave one of the lads in the hospital next door. (Fallen off his motorbike)
Did you take a picture of the picture you could post ?
 
You must have passed me at some point today if you went up the A84 via Caen , im 5mins off Jct 39 until Sunday :thumbsup:
 
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Quite uncanny!
I will admit to find it very moving - my brother has no doubts about it either - unfortunately I’m at that age where there’s no family to ask!
 
Wow what a story👍
When I see photos of WW2 in the desert I scour them for my grandad but sadly not seen him yet.
 
Thanks fellas- I wasnt looking tp find the old boy either - the face just jumped out at me. It’s really knocked me for six if I’m honest!

It’s going to be a restless night for me.
 
Wow, that is a special moment ronk.

It reminds me of when I went to Battersea Power Station with my sister in 2013 on one of those "open house" weekends when buildings were open to the public for one weekend.

My Dad worked there, so he was exempted from the forces in WW2 as his job was regarded as an essential occupation (he also got a slightly higher ration for petrol)!

But we got to see the actual control room he was working in when a bomb landed on it bombed (probably 1940) and one of his ear lobes got about 80% detached - we both remember his scar.

So it was a bit spine-tingling to see how it probably looked at the time, and how it was when we saw it.
 

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That's just great Ron. Very touching. Have a brandy to toast your Dad and calm your nerves...I'm sure he would approve. :thumbsup:
 
patriot66 said:
That's just great Ron. Very touching. Have a brandy to toast your Dad and calm your nerves...I'm sure he would approve. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I can say that emotions are still running! If I had been looking to find him there would have been a readiness - but this came like the bolt out of the blue!
I’ve got some photos of him at about that age in dress uniform. I hope to be able to acquire a proper print of the museums photos from their archive.

This was one of those needles in a haystack moments .
 
I’ve done more internet research and nothing but more positives.
His shoulder patch, 50th Northumbrian Div landed where he said - Gold beach with the Canadians on his left .
That shoulder patch was verified by the French museum.

I’ve now written to the Fusiliers museum at Alnwick for any info they might be able to offer.
 
ronk said:
I’ve done more internet research and nothing but more positives.
His shoulder patch, 50th Northumbrian Div landed where he said - Gold beach with the Canadians on his left .
That shoulder patch was verified by the French museum.

I’ve now written to the Fusiliers museum at Alnwick for any info they might be able to offer.
Click to expand...
The adventure has passed to you Ronk. :thumbsup:
 
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