From there to.... Buron

On our way from Arromanches back to  Courselles Sur Mer ,  our tour diverted to the village of Buron to help us do something we hadn't been able to do in the past.  On the way there we passed these beautiful villages.

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Ferns grow on a wall

Pegasus Beach Ceremonies

Pegasus Beach Centre is a museum dedicated to the para troopers that landed near there on D-Day 1944.  We saw fly overs and para trooper drops and saw the wooden gliders used as part of the offensive. 

Really brought it home to us. There was a formal dedication that day so the place was mobbed!

Gliders litter the landscape on D-Day, 1944.

A glider to peek into , made of plywood!

Tributes to the paratroopers who lost their lives. All flowers.

Paratroopers drop down during the Pegasus event.

This plane dropped the paratroopers.  Large parts  of Normandy were a no fly zone during this week as only vintage planes were flying.

Spitfire escorts for the bombers.

On the tee shirts " I am a child of freedom, mercie chere veterans".

More from Juno Beach

This next series of pictures is from the beach that many Canadian soldiers landed on at Courselles Sur Mer. The next town, Bernieres sur Mer is where Cpl. Francis Weitzel landed.

Normandy June 2014

We arrived in Normandy June 3 and can honestly say we have not had any time to post mon this travel blog!

We visited so many places around Juno Beach as well as Beny Sur Mer (the Commonwealth Cemetery), that we virtually had no extra time.  We also got the chance to visit Buron, where Ken's Uncle was killed.  More about that later. 

I'll upload some of the best pics and events.  

All the above pictures are from the Juno Centre museum.

Normandy Update

Since we have been to France and Belgium, Ken and I have become voracious readers of material about the Canadians, Normandy and Buron. We intend to attend an open house at the Cambridge Armouries, the home of the Highland Light Infantry, at the end of October.

The Armouries house a museum with many diaries and artifacts, I've been told. In the meantime we have been collecting material and trying to decide what or where to head next. One book entitled: Bloody Buron by J. Allan Snowie, was difficult to locate but full of pictures (some of Francis) and many interesting interviews. We wished we had found it before we went to Europe.

We need to get in touch with the Historical Society and make sure they have some of this. Then we need to talk about a strategy to move forward on the Victoria Cross issue.

I was hoping to talk to someone about my Dad's papers as well. Much harder to figure out where he was and who he was attached to.

We have also seen some very graphic and compelling original film footage this week in a show called the Colours of War on the History Channel, much of it was about Normandy.

Beny-Sur-Mer War Cemetery

We find Cpl. Francis Weitzel's grave. Ken and I felt we had to leave a picture of Francis there.

The QOR laid another wreath. It was most fitting and special for us that the Last Post was played while we were there.

We got the wreath from the War Graves Commission in Ieper.

More Scenes from Juno Beach

A Dutch sign to remind anyone who may forget.

The re-enactment sets up a display.

As we were boarding our bus another group on its way to the beach to lay a wreath passed us by.

Juno Beach Continued

Canadian (Dutch ) soldiers on Juno beach in 2009.

The offerings at Maison des Queens Own Rifles - Hoffer Family House. The first home to be liberated in Normandy and by the Queeens Own Rifles.

A view of the beach from the German perspective (inside the pillbox) . This was what they saw as Canadians landed on this strip pf soil.

Touching tributes.

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.