Computer Issues!

Hi all. Ken and I arrived home after over 8 hours of traveling. Disappointing results tonight.

We arrived home and I took my camera in to my big computer to upload all those pictures for editing AND to post more material on the blog. When I booted it up my monitor refuses to show me anything!!!!! Now I cannot upload to any computer. It never rains but it pours. Now I'll have to use up a lot of time tomorrow and the next day getting all working again. Sorry everyone. They are really amazing pictures and I will need them and the itinerary to keep all in order.

And just to add the frosting on the cake, Dad's war records are in our homecoming mail ! :(

Finally Juno Beach!

Early Saturday, June 6th 2009 we arrived at Juno Beach. Contrary to what many think, the place is not called that. Juno Beach was a code name for the Canadian part of the Allied landings that all occurred that day. The town is Bernieres-sur-Mer. This shot is looking down the beach from the German pillbox pictured below.

Ken and I are finally at the place where his Uncle landed and Dad, too. It was such a compelling thing in his life, the War. We need to understand it better.

Shaun and Adam stand guard at the QOR monument.

Juno Beach on D-Day

These panels were on display near Canada House on Juno Beach.

Canada house on D-Day.

Juno Beach & the Queens Own Rifles

In preparation to lay a wreath at the house liberated by the Queens Own Rifles on D-Day.

Ed and another vetran.

Our Dutch fellows on Juno Beach in Canadian Uniform. It was a bit erie.

Dieppe

Note the cliffs above the beaches at Diepppe. Also the beach is composed of smallish stones. Not good for tank treads or running!

After 3 days in and around the Ypres area, we can say that we enjoyed Belgium very much. Our next stop will be in and around Dieppe. The scene of the largest disaster of leadership in WWII. There are a lot of reasons for the failure of this plan. When I can upload pics it may be self evident.

In the meantime we continue to enjoy windy but fair weather. Apparently this is unusual for this time of year. In Belgium at least, they receive twice as much rainfall as we do. This explains some of the disasters of WWI and the losses. The clay soils were pounded into mush, just add rain for total disaster.

This is the view of the beach at Dieppe from the German pillbox below. They had this beach covered. The Allies never had a chance.

Dieppe was the disastrous raid also known as 'Operation Jubilee" which claimed over 3000 Canadian casualties. Despite the tragic outcome, the lessons learned provided the Allies with valuable information which was later used to successfully plan the beach landings on D-Day.

Note to all

I have had some trouble with my usb ports on my portable. The bottom line here is that I cannot upload pictures to my computer. This is highly disappointing as this is a great help with the order of events. I also have to use this unsatisfying and inadequate track pad instead of my mouse!!

More from Le-Mesnil-Patry

This pipe band was part of the parade to the monuemnt and led us back to the hall after. They were a pretty decent pipeband. Their arm patch said "Seaforth Highlanders of Canada" a regiment from Vancouver.

This blew me away... the whole Pipe Band is from Holland. Another group of reenacters.

Later that Same Day

This is the town of Le-Mesnil-Patry. We were part of a ceremony to lay a wreath dedicated to the memory of the Canadian soldiers of the Queens Own Rifles killed during the Battle of Normandy and in the liberation of the town. This young lady was part of a group that laid peonies as their offering of remembrance.

The Honour Guard stands.

The students are prepared for the Ceremony.

Another symbol of remembrance. This gentleman was no part of the ceremony but laid his wreath privately.

June 5th at Giberville

For the last three days we have been almost continuously on the go . Two nights ago we were laying wreaths, attending ceremonies and on the bus till 11:30 pm. Believe it or not the next day we had to be up and at 'em by 5:30 in order to fit everything in!!!!!! The weather was fine with a bit of cloud.

By last night Ken and I begged off from another ceremony with leg and back issues. Mostly because we had been doing a lot of standing at back to back ceremonies. June 5th we attended a wreath laying ceremony in a small village. We walked quite a distance to the park and then back to a dedication to a Queens Own sign/street and then to an old age home. It was an amazing day!! The first surprise was to see young men and women dressed in Canadian forces uniform for the Queens Own rifles ...... from WWII!!!!!!


They are quite engaged and are very serious collectors of WWII material. These people were from Holland and were then with us on and off for three days. They believe they are keepers of history. A very serious group.They came complete with their very own WWII era Canadian jeep! At one point they gave Ed (our vet) a ride. His comment was "I never thought I'd ever ride in one of these again!"

The second surprise was the town treated everyone to a very yummy luncheon, complete with Calvados (the local cider) and wine.

Queens Own Rifles (circa 1940) and Queens Own Rifles (Shawn & Adam) circa 2009

As the day advanced we saw more and more unformed Canadian soldiers (all reenactment groups). That has been the weirdest thing of all to get used to. They have trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, uniforms, kit bags, boots, tents, etc. In the right place it is ghostly to see them there.

More in the Village of Giberville

In her role as a Canadian WAC , this young woman , her child and her husband were very involved in the whole reenact culture.

Shawn and Adam with a Vetran at the village monument. You can see part of the Canadian Maple Leaf (in red) on the monument behind them.

the village band played as we marched, etc.

Another QOR Event

This cermony is at a monument just outside the village of Anguerny. The event we were attending was a civic cermony dedicating a Monument to the Queens Own rifles of Canada.

More reenactment groups , this time French citizens in Canadian regiments' uniforms.

These are some of the mementos left by the students. There were a whole group of students working with one teacher . His students wrote poems, songs and did the dedication itself. We were there quite some time. I was impressed by the intensity the students had for this. There were many heartfelt tears as they talked about 'young men coming to a strange land to fight for their (the French) freedom' .

Rue Harry Hawkins and the QOR

In the town of Giberville there was a special plaque unveiled commemorating actions by a member of the QOR from 1944. The flag bearer is the husband of the WAC.

The Mayor and QOR (our group) laid wreaths. The lady beside the plaque is a Canadian , living in France. I only knew her as Mary. She is a member of "Friends of Canada" a group in France working to remember and document the WWII activities of Canadians.

When we were all finsihed off we all marched to lunch, sponsored by the village. The chef served about 50 people!!

Poppies growing in the stone walls.

More from Giberville .....

Ed ( a WWII vetran and member of our tour group) was fascinated by the jeep the QOR reenacters had with them. He commented that he " never thought he'd ride in one of these again." The Dutch fellows took Ed on a spin to the Nursing home where the town hosted a reception and luncheon for us all!

The rest of us had to walk!

Canadian War Cemetary at Hautot-sur-Mer

Sign post on the way to the cemetery.

This is the Canadian War Cemetery at Hautot-sur-Mer where the Canadians killed at Dieppe are buried. This cemetery is unique in that it was laid out by the Germans in their traditional pattern of burial after that raid. It was not changed after the war.

It is always moving to read the inscriptions and see the ages of these men or other life storeys on these stones.

Some of the beautiful roses on the graves. The War Graves Commission has a huge botanical component to it. You can check out the perennials and design at the War Graves Commission Look under "Commission Horticulture" near the bottom of the list.

Again the Queens Own Rifles honoured their dead and laid wreaths. George played the last post.

These cattle came a runing when they heard George playing later. So he did it again to watch them come running.

A bit of levity during a long, sobering day.

Dieppe Area

Dieppe Castle, above the beaches. If you look closely, you can see were damage from WWII has been repaired. (Hint: the brick is a lighter colour)

Another German pillbox , they are all along the coast. Part of Hilter's Atlantic Wall

Another Allied landing area near Dieppe.

A plaque at the beachhead where The Queens Own Rifles played the last Post and laid a wreath.

It reads: You who are alive on this beach, remember that these men died far from home, that others here and everywhere, might freely enjoy life in God's mercy.

The German pillbox that cost so many lives. ...... a more modern use

Tyne Cot Cemetary & Memorial

This cemetery is located just outside of Passchendale. It is the largest and most visited Commonwealth cemetery in the world, containing the war graves of 11,953 Allied soldiers of various nationalities, including Canadians. The memorial wall contains the names of the 35,000 missing commonwealth soldiers, whose names were unable to be inscribed on the Menin Gate.

Just contemplating these cold facts is disturbing. Seeing the cemetery, memorial wall and interpretive centre, drives it home.

Note the flowers along the rows. Every commonwealth cemetery has these.