“These are all good men” a veteran shouted to onlookers as he and his comrades set sail to Normandy ahead of Thursday's 80th anniversary of D-Day.
It has been a herculean effort to assemble these heroes, as the youngest of the 20 veterans travelling with the Royal British Legion, is 97, four are centenarians, and seven live in care homes. There were tears as they were finally reunited on board a special Brittany ferry on what is expected to be their last trip of remembrance to France. Many witnessed unimaginable carnage on the bloodied beaches.
Veteran Joe Mines, 99, from Hornchurch, East London was described as a “superstar” as he addressed the crowds that had gathered to watch the veterans from the deck above. The former minesweeper, who was an Army private on D-Day, was cheered by the passengers as he pointed to all the veterans around him and told the crowd: “All good men, these are all good men. Heroes.” And from his wheelchair, he looked up at the cheering crowd and added: “If I had my time again, I would go again if necessary. Get on with life, you’ve got to. Get on with it!”
Veterans arrived with the Torch of Commemoration ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Joe was travelling with around 30 World War II veterans in total, men determined to carry out their proud “duty” to remind the world of the sacrifices made by millions to keep us free from tyranny. For one veteran it was the first time he’d returned to Normandy since those fateful days of 1944, when the invading Allied forces ultimately turned the tide of the war against the Nazis.
The Mirror were privileged to join the ageing heroes on board and witness a remarkable guard of honour. Dougie Hyde, aged 98, was travelling back to Normandy for the first time in 80 years. He was with his daughters Angela Hyde and Helen Hyde, from Stamford in Lincolnshire.
Brighton beach evacuated as bomb squad blow up 'World War 2 shell' near pier
He said: “I feel the Merchant Navy was overlooked so it’s important to be here.” Helen added: “I’m immensely proud of him. It’s really important for him because he’s never been back. It’s the first time in 80 years. He keeps saying he wants to go back and see Caen now it's been rebuilt, the last time he was there it was pretty destroyed.”
Veteran Jack Mortimer from Leeds, wiped away tears as he said: “The main reason I am here is in remembrance of all those graveyards in France. When I walk through those graveyards I hear them talking to me. Sometimes I hear their names…”
The D-Day veterans have been feted by current servicemen on their voyage (PA)The VIPs - very important passengers - were given a Royal Navy escort all the way to Normandy, with the ferry flanked by HMS Cattistock and several patrol vessels. Many of the veterans saluted and fought back tears as the crew of HMS Cattistock lined up to salute them as they passed, on their way to escort these wonderful veterans back to France.
Two MoD tugboats blasted their sirens and fired water cannons as the convoy ferry moved out to sea to cross the Channel. And then it was ‘eyes left’ as the Royal Air Force did three flypasts, while Jedburgh Pipe Band played the nation's saviours out to sea. Smaller naval boats blasted their horns and crew took their hats off to wave at the proud veterans.
The old soldiers, some in wheelchairs, wearing their rows of medals, beamed as they waved back and saluted the younger generations now serving King and country, and civilians there to pay their respects. Some of the cohort were silent , tearful, simply remembering. A matter of hours later, they were back on the beaches they'd been part of storming in the cause of freedom.
British troops on the D-Day Allied invasion of German-occupied France in 1944 (Getty Images)The veterans were mainly travelling with the Royal British Legion, and about nine were with The Spirit of Normandy Trust. Arnie Salter, 98, from Bedworth in Warwickshire had travelled to Portsmouth with his pal Bob Ashley, 68. Arnie had helped ferry hundreds of troops across to the Normandy beaches and said it felt “like a bad dream”.
"We lost a hell of a lot of good men. It was a nightmare really.” Mr Salter said as he watched the flypast holding onto the railings. I was lucky to get out.”
His friend, Bob, said poignantly: “These guys are irreplaceable. They won’t be around much longer so we must enjoy them while they’re still around. He’d normally be in the care home watching the telly I’m hoping it is not too overwhelming for him. Talking about the heroes send off the men had received, he says simply: “This is what they deserve”.
Harry Birdsall, aged 98, from Wakefield, West Yorks, told The Mirror: "I felt very, very emotional. I felt emotional to all the thousands of people who'd gathered on the quayside just to wave to us few and say thank you. He also praised the Royal British Legion for the care and support they have given the ex-servicemen.
Mark Atkinson, head of the Royal British Legion, called it "a momentous occasion" and said: "The veterans are remarkably sprightly, they're up and about and engaged. There were a lot of mixed emotions as you'd imagine but a lot of people are really excited to be going back. It's an opportunity for them to pay their respects and remember the fallen."
Vital to celebrate Windrush pioneers, says Lenny Henry ahead of 75th anniversary
The veterans have been entertained with popular songs from their wartime service (PA)Among the special guests witnessing the convoy was Field Marshal Montgomery's grandson, Henry Montgomery, who supports the Spirit of Normandy Trust. His grandfather, "Monty", was the leader of the Allied ground forces during the D-Day invasion.
Henry, 70, said: “Our mission is to keep these stories alive for future generations because this will definitely be the last big one (for the veterans). We would not be free people and have the peace we’ve had for 80 years if it had not been for what they did during those three hard months in Normandy. If you talk to them they are very humble. For many years they did not want to talk about their experiences. When you take them on to the beaches you just see them standing there, not saying anything.”
Albert Keir, 98, like the others veterans, was picked up courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover from his care home in Bakewell in Derbyshire, to drive him to the port. The former Royal Navy hero patrolled the seas off Normandy in the months prior to D-Day and cleared mines, before the army landed. On D-Day itself, Albert was part of the crew ferrying US troops onto Utah beach.
It’s still a very painful memory for him, and his eyes well with tears as he talks about how important it is for him to return to France. The former decorator pauses as he’s asked how important this day is to him then, after a silence, says: “It’s touching. I want to go back. But it was a hard time and a very difficult job. It’s very difficult to try and get it out of your mind. It took some time to get it more or less out of my mind.” But his face erupts in a giant smile as he is saluted by the navy and he chats to his fellow veterans.
Claire Horton, the Director General of Commonwealth War Graves, waved a huge D-Day flag at the back of the ship. She said the 80th was "a turning point” as it will be the last time he veterans mark a major anniversary. “I’m incredibly proud and privileged to be here. This is all about passing on that torch of commemoration to the younger generation,” she said.
The veterans are carrying with them a commemorative torch from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which will form the centrepiece of Wednesday's vigil at Bayeux War Cemetery. During the trip The Spirit of Normandy Trust planned a wreath-laying at the stern of the ship to remember those who never made it to shore
Perhaps the defiant yet sombre mood of the voyage was best summed up by Ruth and Pete Dorrington from Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, who were on the trip to pay their respects. It was a heartbreaking trip for the carers, as it was the first time they had made the voyage without one of the 14 veterans they had looked after. Ruth, 57, said: “We’ve come over for 15 years as carers of veterans. This is our first year without one and it’s hard. One by one they’ve gradually dropped off. It’s heartbreaking.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
