I had the opportunity recently to take a D-day Battlefields Tour with my Family, it is a humbling & emotional experience I will never forget.
Our Battlefields Guide for the duration of our trip was Carl Shilleto, a Military Historian
and author of several books on WWII. Carl’s in-depth knowledge and description of the events of D-Day bought the entire campaign to life. We had opportunity to walk across Pegasus Bridge and see the Gliders used to reach the bridge undetected. We were able to visit Madame Gondree in Café Gondree, the first building liberated on D-Day and somehow untouched by time.
It is impossible to believe the horrors that occurred on the beaches 70 years ago when you see them on a warm sunny day with children paddling and people sunbathing, but evidence is still there. The German gun emplacements which formed the Atlantic Wall, the Mulberry Harbour at Arramanche and the numerous fascinating museums lay testament to the heroic sacrifices made that day.
The Cemeteries are testament to the huge losses on both sides. At Ranville Cemetery Carl pointed out the grave of a 16 year old boy who was a paratrooper shot down before landing and the only war grave for a paratrooper and his para-dog, both killed before setting foot on French soil. There is also the unmarked grave of the German sniper who was on the church spire. The American Cemetery above Omaha Beach is serene and peaceful now, it’s hard to imagine the scene 70 years ago when it became known as ‘bloody Omaha’ were over 3,000 American Soldiers lost their lives in 1 day.
We travelled by Coach from Bedford which is quite a long day, however we were given numerous ‘comfort stops’ en-route for tea & coffee and, as it was a ‘silver service’ coach we had extra leg room so plenty of space to stretch. In France the stewards on-board were able to sell alcoholic drinks so there was something quite civilised about watching the French Countryside go by with Gin & Tonic in hand!
The Carline Hotel on the outskirts of Caen was adequate for our three nights stay and chosen for its location and ease to get to the sites avoiding too much traffic.
Our two days spent in the company of Carl, our battlefields guide, were extremely interesting & well balanced. In many respects a privilege to be able to walk in the footsteps of heroes.
Please contact Sue at Eagle Travel if you are interested in this tour. [email protected]
D-DAY LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
With WWII Specialist battlefields Guide
By coach from Bedford
Various dates
Expect to see:
*Pegasus Bridge & Memorial Pegasus Museum
*Sword, Juno, Utah and ‘Bloody Omaha’ Beaches immortalised in Saving Private Ryan
*Ranville Cemetery & The American Normandy Cemetery
*Arramanche & The Mulberry Harbour
*St Mere Eglise
*German Cemetery at La Cambe
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