lesofprimus
Brigadier General
Ive been to the memorials in DC, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier... Words cant describe the feeling of watching men in their 50's and 60' crying at The Wall...
Normandy
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Nonskimmer
Captain
There's a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa too, as part of the National War Memorial. It's quite a sombre memorial to those lost in the World Wars, Korea, and since. You can't help but feel just a little overcome at places like that.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Another place is the Punchbowl in Hawaii - I real tearjerker!
Nonskimmer
Captain
I'll bet the Arizona Memorial is. I've never actually been there.
Erich
the old Sage
My father in-law has been there 3 times. He served on a tin-can druing the latter part of the war in the pacific and witnessed the kamikaze attacks on a great many different ships not just the Carriers as the history books and channels try to document.
He was almost destined to be part of that ill-fated crew and the line was drawn just a couple of names above his for service on her.
He was almost destined to be part of that ill-fated crew and the line was drawn just a couple of names above his for service on her.
Nonskimmer
Captain
Fateful indeed.
Maestro
Master Sergeant
I was just reviewing some of the page on one of the web sites I posted here earlier...
Some D-Day battles or post D-Day battles are easily forgotten...
American Rangers landings at Pointe-du-Hoc, June 6th, 1944 :
"Rudders Rangers" all 225 of them, were now on the very small beach at Pointe du hoc, The only thing between them and the German Guns were 100 ft. cliffs and well dug in German troops to meet them at the top!!
Free French Forces No. 10 Commando and British No. 4 Commando at Ouistreham, June 6th to June 9th, 1944 :
French troops of the No.10 (Inter Allied) Commando Brigade, under the command of Major Philippe Keiffer, accompanied by the British No.4 Commando attacked the town of Ouistreham, which is situated on the eastern most point of Sword Beach. Their objective being, the battery of guns, which were dug in around the casino and were responsible for terrific casualties to the British troops who were landing on the beach.
Thanks to a French gendarme giving the commandos detailed information of the German positions, an attack, led by the French was implemented.
The French No.10 Commandos and British No.4 eventually silenced the German guns at Ouistreham and relieved the situation on the beach head.
As Keiffer and his men were attacking the Casino, Lord Lovatt, who was in overall command of the commando brigades, moved quickly in-land, with No.6 Commando in the lead. They soon outflanked the German defences and seized the village of Colleville-Montgomery.
[...]Standing 52ft. High, "The Grand Bunker" The German Headquarter which was in charge of the batteries covering the entrance of the river Orne and the Caen canal, was an unforeseen obstacle to the Franco British commandos, when they attempted to approach the tower on June 6th. they were repulsed by machine gun fire and stick grenades which were thrown from the top. It was decided to skirt the bunker and carry on with their mission. The bunker remained a threat to the allies until June 9th. when lieutenant Bob Orrell of Royal Engineers, 91 Field Company R.E. 3rd. Beach Group, 3rd. Canadian Div. 2nd. British Army. Accompanied by three men, placed explosive charges at the armour plated door, it took a total of 4 hours before the door was breached! Only at this point did the garrison of two officers and fifty men surrender.
Canadian and British troops at Caen, June 6th to July 19th, 1944 :
The city was totally ringed with German defences. It was essential that the village of Le Carpiquet and the airfield west of Caen was captured, in order to achieve a successful attack on the city itself. JULY 4th After massive air and artillery support the Canadian 8th. Brigade under the command of Brigadier Blackader and supported by the 79th. Armoured Division moved forward to try and take these objectives.
The calibre of the German defenders cannot be overstated, they were of the highest imaginable. The Canadians were met by no less than The Hitler Jungen Division!! The fighting was ferocious, even with all the firepower available to the Canadians, they struggled to take the village of Le Carpiquet, but take it they did, at tremendous cost. 350 killed in action and the airfield was only partially taken. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles again took most casualties, with 100 men killed, only to be back where they started when the day was over...
[...]The British Infantry at Caen took terrific losses!! It was decided by Monty's 2nd. in Command, Leftenant-General Dempsey to mount a major push using Bomber Command and Artillery bombardment. This was followed by the British 11th. Armoured Division moving up to take on the German defenders, most of which had been killed during the bombardment, others quickly surrendered in a total state of shock.
[...]The enormity of the Battle of Caen cannot be related to on a web-site like this. Thousands of men on both sides were killed, hundreds of pieces of heavy armour destroyed. Fortunately for the Allies the battle was won and the lock to Normandy had been opened.
82nd Airborne Division landing at Sainte-Mère-Église, June 5th to June 6th, 1944 :
At the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise all hell was let loose when 30 troops of the 3/505th. actually dropped into the town!! The German defenders didn't give them a chance, and cut them down before they had the chance to land. One soldier, Private John Steele had a miraculous escape when his parachute snagged on the church steeple, he was left dangling for two hours before the Germans realised he wasn't dead and eventually took him as a prisoner of war. To this day, this man has never been forgotten by the people of Ste-Mere-Eglise. The Divisional Commander, Major-General Matthew Ridgway, who actually parachuted in with his troops, soon realised that the most he could achieve would be the capture of Ste-Mere-Eglise,his most important objective. With 108 men under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Krause, this was achieved by 5 a.m.
An interresting note on that event :
It is hard to avoid parachutes in Ste-Mère-Eglise, a lot of the buildings have them painted on the walls. The main street has several W.W.11 memorabilia shops selling anything from German helmets at 850FF. (£85 or $140) American helmets also at the same price.
Uniforms at various prices, It is interesting to browse around and maybe see something that you would like to buy. The town itself is very much the same as it was in 1944. Fortunately it had not been destroyed like so many other parts of Normandy. There are several cafés and hotels in the town, also quaint little shops, selling most goods. The most popular place to visit, after the church is definitely the new AIRBORNE MUSEUM a fabulous tribute to the brave men of the 82nd. and 101st. Airborne. It consists of two buildings shaped in the design of a parachute canopy, one houses a Douglas D.C.3 Da.
Some D-Day battles or post D-Day battles are easily forgotten...
American Rangers landings at Pointe-du-Hoc, June 6th, 1944 :
"Rudders Rangers" all 225 of them, were now on the very small beach at Pointe du hoc, The only thing between them and the German Guns were 100 ft. cliffs and well dug in German troops to meet them at the top!!
Free French Forces No. 10 Commando and British No. 4 Commando at Ouistreham, June 6th to June 9th, 1944 :
French troops of the No.10 (Inter Allied) Commando Brigade, under the command of Major Philippe Keiffer, accompanied by the British No.4 Commando attacked the town of Ouistreham, which is situated on the eastern most point of Sword Beach. Their objective being, the battery of guns, which were dug in around the casino and were responsible for terrific casualties to the British troops who were landing on the beach.
Thanks to a French gendarme giving the commandos detailed information of the German positions, an attack, led by the French was implemented.
The French No.10 Commandos and British No.4 eventually silenced the German guns at Ouistreham and relieved the situation on the beach head.
As Keiffer and his men were attacking the Casino, Lord Lovatt, who was in overall command of the commando brigades, moved quickly in-land, with No.6 Commando in the lead. They soon outflanked the German defences and seized the village of Colleville-Montgomery.
[...]Standing 52ft. High, "The Grand Bunker" The German Headquarter which was in charge of the batteries covering the entrance of the river Orne and the Caen canal, was an unforeseen obstacle to the Franco British commandos, when they attempted to approach the tower on June 6th. they were repulsed by machine gun fire and stick grenades which were thrown from the top. It was decided to skirt the bunker and carry on with their mission. The bunker remained a threat to the allies until June 9th. when lieutenant Bob Orrell of Royal Engineers, 91 Field Company R.E. 3rd. Beach Group, 3rd. Canadian Div. 2nd. British Army. Accompanied by three men, placed explosive charges at the armour plated door, it took a total of 4 hours before the door was breached! Only at this point did the garrison of two officers and fifty men surrender.
Canadian and British troops at Caen, June 6th to July 19th, 1944 :
The city was totally ringed with German defences. It was essential that the village of Le Carpiquet and the airfield west of Caen was captured, in order to achieve a successful attack on the city itself. JULY 4th After massive air and artillery support the Canadian 8th. Brigade under the command of Brigadier Blackader and supported by the 79th. Armoured Division moved forward to try and take these objectives.
The calibre of the German defenders cannot be overstated, they were of the highest imaginable. The Canadians were met by no less than The Hitler Jungen Division!! The fighting was ferocious, even with all the firepower available to the Canadians, they struggled to take the village of Le Carpiquet, but take it they did, at tremendous cost. 350 killed in action and the airfield was only partially taken. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles again took most casualties, with 100 men killed, only to be back where they started when the day was over...
[...]The British Infantry at Caen took terrific losses!! It was decided by Monty's 2nd. in Command, Leftenant-General Dempsey to mount a major push using Bomber Command and Artillery bombardment. This was followed by the British 11th. Armoured Division moving up to take on the German defenders, most of which had been killed during the bombardment, others quickly surrendered in a total state of shock.
[...]The enormity of the Battle of Caen cannot be related to on a web-site like this. Thousands of men on both sides were killed, hundreds of pieces of heavy armour destroyed. Fortunately for the Allies the battle was won and the lock to Normandy had been opened.
82nd Airborne Division landing at Sainte-Mère-Église, June 5th to June 6th, 1944 :
At the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise all hell was let loose when 30 troops of the 3/505th. actually dropped into the town!! The German defenders didn't give them a chance, and cut them down before they had the chance to land. One soldier, Private John Steele had a miraculous escape when his parachute snagged on the church steeple, he was left dangling for two hours before the Germans realised he wasn't dead and eventually took him as a prisoner of war. To this day, this man has never been forgotten by the people of Ste-Mere-Eglise. The Divisional Commander, Major-General Matthew Ridgway, who actually parachuted in with his troops, soon realised that the most he could achieve would be the capture of Ste-Mere-Eglise,his most important objective. With 108 men under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Krause, this was achieved by 5 a.m.
An interresting note on that event :
It is hard to avoid parachutes in Ste-Mère-Eglise, a lot of the buildings have them painted on the walls. The main street has several W.W.11 memorabilia shops selling anything from German helmets at 850FF. (£85 or $140) American helmets also at the same price.
Uniforms at various prices, It is interesting to browse around and maybe see something that you would like to buy. The town itself is very much the same as it was in 1944. Fortunately it had not been destroyed like so many other parts of Normandy. There are several cafés and hotels in the town, also quaint little shops, selling most goods. The most popular place to visit, after the church is definitely the new AIRBORNE MUSEUM a fabulous tribute to the brave men of the 82nd. and 101st. Airborne. It consists of two buildings shaped in the design of a parachute canopy, one houses a Douglas D.C.3 Da.
Attachments
trackend
Chief Master Sergeant
BROUGHT FROM FRANCE TO LIE AMONG
THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS OF THE LAND
AND BURIED HERE ON ARMISTICE DAY
11 NOV: 1920, IN THE PRESENCE OF
HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V
HIS MINISTERS OF STATE
THE CHIEFS OF HIS FORCES
AND A VAST CONCOURSE OF THE NATION
THUS ARE COMMEMORATED THE MANY
MULTITUDES WHO DURING THE GREAT
WAR PF 1914-1918 GAVE THE MOST THAT
MAN CAN GIVE LIFE ITSELF
FOR GOD
FOR KING AND COUNTRY
FOR LOVED ONES HOME AND EMPIRE
FOR THE SACRED CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND
THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD
THEY BURIED HIM AMONG THE KINGS
BECAUSE HE
HAD DONE GOOD TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD
HIS HOUSE
I have visited Westminster Abbey many times and I always pause and read this on the tomb of the unknown soldier there although a 14-18 war soldier he is used as a symbol for all the dead of many conflicts right up to the present.
THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS OF THE LAND
AND BURIED HERE ON ARMISTICE DAY
11 NOV: 1920, IN THE PRESENCE OF
HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V
HIS MINISTERS OF STATE
THE CHIEFS OF HIS FORCES
AND A VAST CONCOURSE OF THE NATION
THUS ARE COMMEMORATED THE MANY
MULTITUDES WHO DURING THE GREAT
WAR PF 1914-1918 GAVE THE MOST THAT
MAN CAN GIVE LIFE ITSELF
FOR GOD
FOR KING AND COUNTRY
FOR LOVED ONES HOME AND EMPIRE
FOR THE SACRED CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND
THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD
THEY BURIED HIM AMONG THE KINGS
BECAUSE HE
HAD DONE GOOD TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD
HIS HOUSE
I have visited Westminster Abbey many times and I always pause and read this on the tomb of the unknown soldier there although a 14-18 war soldier he is used as a symbol for all the dead of many conflicts right up to the present.
Attachments
Speaking of Memorials. When I was in Washington DC in February I went to the new WW2 memorial and there is nothing like it. It is the best war memorial I have ever seen.
I agree Les it really gets you emotional when you see the Nam vets break down at the wall. I will never forget seeing it.
I agree Les it really gets you emotional when you see the Nam vets break down at the wall. I will never forget seeing it.
HealzDevo
Staff Sergeant
One of the interesting things about those Tombs of the Unknown Soldier is the fact that in most cases it is really and was unknown at the point of burial what nations soldiers were found there. Therefore in theory one of the German Soldiers could be resting in Westminister Abbey in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
That I really doubt. Well I dont know about the tomb of unkowns in England but the one in Washington is buried atleast with soldiers who were identifiable as US. One for the Army, Navy, and Airforce.
Nonskimmer
Captain
The one in Ottawa contains the remains of an unidentified Canadian soldier who died in France during WWI. The body was formerly buried near the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France, and was only repatriated to Canada in May of 2000, at the request of the Canadian government.
I am not sure where the soldiers at the one in Washington died.
trackend
Chief Master Sergeant
I think you will find Heal that he was Identified as British but his personal details could not be assertained.
I am pretty sure they research quite a bit before they bury them in the tomb.
P38 Pilot
Tech Sergeant
Plan_D you are right! It pisses me off today to see people protesting and making bad remarks about our soldiers and how America is Evil. Well i want to spit in their face and say... "You would'nt be able to do this s@$t if it wasnt for the men in Normandy and Beyond you sick bas%$* !"
God Bless the Men who fought for our freedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It makes me even more mad because i had a great-uncle part of the 28th infratry who was killed in belgium just before they crossed the RHine River. He had fought in the Hurtgen Forest and at the Battle of the Buldge. Thank you Uncle Archie! I will never know your Heroic Stories over there!
God Bless the Men who fought for our freedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It makes me even more mad because i had a great-uncle part of the 28th infratry who was killed in belgium just before they crossed the RHine River. He had fought in the Hurtgen Forest and at the Battle of the Buldge. Thank you Uncle Archie! I will never know your Heroic Stories over there!
Attachments
Well I think I speak for all soldiers out there including myself when I say thankyou.
cheddar cheese
Major General
Ive pledged 5 pouns to that...association...thing...(I can even remeber what its called lmao) and a message on a flag that will be in trafalgar square.
Well its good of you to donate but shame on your for not knowing who you are donating to 
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
i'm hoping to join the Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association, the officail support group for the BBMF, i pay money to help keep the flying memorials in the air, and get a newsletter!
