Normandy and the D-day Landings

An inscription outside the German War Cemetary in Normandy, France where 22,000 Germans are buried (WW2)

We have spent the past 4 days exploring the southern coastine of Normandy, France and what an education we have had. Having spent time earlier this month in the Somme area of France (WW1) we are now gaining an education on WW2. It really blows you away to go through some of the museums and cemetaries that are in this region. It is certainly one thing reading about our history in a book - another, visiting the sites and seeing the cemetaries and speaking to the diggers who landed here, in Normandy, on the 6th June, 1944. It is beautiful, sad and emotional all at the same time.

We arrived in Bayeux on Saturday after a very long day of car and train travel from basically the south of France to the North of France.

Bayeux is a beautiful and quaint city in Normandy about 15km from the northern coast of France where the D-Day landings occured in 1944. It is rich in history and a great place to have set up our base for exploration of the area.

We visited the Cemetary in Bayuex as our first port of call. This is a cemetary established by the British and a beautiful one with about 5,000 graves. It is very moving to pass through the cemetary and read the inscriptions on the gravestones: so many men of 19, 22, 25. So young and yet so brave!

An ex-serviceman from Norfolk, UK holds the flag for one minutes silence in honour of those who gave their lives - Bayeux British Cemetary, France

We were fortunate enough to be visiting this area around the Anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy by the Allies, and thus there were many ex-servicemen also visiting the area. Men now in their 80's who stopped to speak to us and especially the children. We came across a group from Norfolk in England who had been amongst the lucky ones to survive the D-Day landings - and they were here to honour their dead friends. We stood with them as they took a minutes silence and could only feel the emotion and strength that these men must have felt. They told us stories of their friend whose grave that they had come to lay a special wreath upon. He, at 19, had rushed at a German tank with a Bren gun and fired continuously, allowing his group to move forward. He had given his life in this mission, but saved many others - these men amongst the many. He was awarded a Victoria Cross for his bravery and courage - unfortunately only his family ever saw it as he died 3 days later - WOW!

There are so many stories like this.

Standing in a german bunker at Gold Beach - one of the 5 beaches of the D-day landings on June 7, 1944

Searching the maps for information - Gabrielle and Xavier at the Bayeux Museum

A German observation post at Juno Beach, Normandy, France

We visited also the Canadian War Cemetary and Museum which was just wonderful at Juno Beach and the American Cemetary at Omaha Beach - the beach with the greatest bloodshed during this time.

Scott, Xavier and James outside the Bayeux War Museum (above)

Offshore - the false harbour transported by the British all the way to the French shoreline - some still are there today!

Omaha Beach (above)

James beside an American Army Jeep - Juno Beach, Normandy

We also visited the German cemetary. This was something unexpected and really beautiful. All I could think as I walked through the area was that of the 22,000 men buried here, each had a mother and a father that loved them and would have never forgotten their bravery - for right of wrong, they were serving their country and they gave their life.