BRITS, CANADIANS PLUS OTHERS

 Mainly, Yanks, Brits & Canadians but you mustn't forget the contributions of the French, Polish, Dutch & others who fought on D-Day or the Air Forces & Navies of many nations. There was a touching memorial to Norwegians who had one of their warships torpedoed where many died.

We spent the morning looking at the earlier night attack by the paras & glider troops on the bridges over the river & canal at the eastern end of the beaches to secure the flanks & prevent German reinforcement reaching the area. The gliders were a spectacular success 5 of the 6 gliders landing within 100 yards of their targets with Pegasus bridge being taken within 15 minutes & held until relieved by the special forces under Lord Lovat later that day. It's a funny old world, the week before I had been to Tower Green by the Tower of London & a predecessor of Lord Lovat was the last person to be publicly beheaded there.

This is the grave of the first guy to be killed from the invasion on Pegasus bridge.

The Commonwealth cemeteries are nicer than the US for me, less stark & with personal touches like nice planting, details about the dead & personal inscriptions from the family.

This is the first liberated French place, the owner of the cafe that stands alongside Pegasus bridge met the commander of the gliders as they took the bridge. We had a couple of coffees there with a  guy from the DLI. Pretty pricey!

Piper Bill Millin, who accompanied Lovat in the relief force.