75th Anniversary of D Day

Sam, one of our students, has recently returned from the commemorations of the 75^th anniversary of D Day with his family. 

Sam was immersed in the history of the events from day one, visiting many museums and many of the notable sites of the D Day landings including the Cemetery’s at Bayeaux, The American War Cemetery at Omaha Beach and the British Airborne Cemetery at Pegasus Bridge. He spoke to many D Day veterans, the eldest being a 97 year old Stirling Bomber pilot. Sam shook their hands and found it moving to hear their accounts.

Sam was lucky to see many of the parades and individual events honouring the veterans. The largest parade he was involved in was through Bayeaux on Sunday the 9^th June where the massed crowds were estimated to be 60,000 French.

Perhaps the most resonating event was the drive onto Arromanche Beach at 0500 hours on the actual day of the landing, 6^th June. Sam was part of a 450 strong military vehicle gathering on the beach. He watched the sunrise and heard the lone piper commemorate the time of the first British troops landing on Gold beach at 0730 hours, 6/6/1944. He was mature and became an integral part of the MVT tour. Older tour members were constantly commenting that it was great to see such a young but knowledgeable young man on the event. Although much of the event was televised, Sam will have life long memories of this fantastic week.