PW_4_2019

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75th Anniversary D-Day Celebration Cruise John Paice , BEM, Hants, Dorset & IOW RAFPA Branch My wife Bebe and I joined the ship at Portsmouth for an overnight cruise to Antwerp, our first port of call. With us on board were 800 passengers, including three D-Day Veterans. The remaining passengers were retired Navy, Royal Marines, Army, RAF and Home Office Police. W e arrived around midday and boarded coaches to Tyne Cot British War Graves Cemetery, near Ypres, a fly past by the RAF Dakota and Spitfire from Britain’s Historic flight. Thursday 6th June was the actual 75th D-Day Anniversary, which we commemorated at

The next day also began with a coach journey from our ship. This time we were heading to Brussels for a guided walking tour of the city, with its Cathedral, Royal Palaces, Atomium Statue and magnificent Square. We also got to meet the Manneken Pis, Brussels famous statue of a little boy on top of a fountain. After another overnight sailing, we arrived at Honfleur, in France. We again travelled by coach through beautiful countryside, passing several War Time Cemeteries to the British WW11 Cemetery at Ranville. This cemetery has 2,564 graves, including those of 2,152 British soldiers. As we arrived, many ex-serviceman, their families and visitors from around the world, laid wreaths and stood in remembrance. The sheer number of graves took our breath away as we stood in silence while a military band played soft music. We walked along the long line of graves, noticing that the soldiers and sailors aged from 16 to 59 years of age, which again made one think. From Ranville we travelled on to visit the Pegasus Bridge Memorial Museum and Glider at Benouville. The Museum is dedicated to the men of the first Paratroopers drop into occupied France. They were the Green Howards, part of the 6th British Airborne Division, Commanded by Major John Howard who landed their gliders during the night of 5th-6th June 1944, to secure the bridge for the British Forces. They captured Pegasus Bridge in a very short time, losing only one man and holding it until relieved from the Normandy Beaches. The whole area was packed with ex-servicemen and visitors, cars, motor cycles, caravans and WWII military vehicles. Back at the coach park; the heavens opened, which thankfully did not prevent

where we paid our respects and thanks at the many hundreds of British Servicemen’s graves. All were beautifully kept, and each grave had a red rose left by local school children. A visit to Ypres is not complete without an evening visit to the town’s WW1 Menin Gate Memorial. Every evening hundreds of visitors and ex-servicemen from all over the world, gather at 8 pm to hear the Local Volunteer Fire Service Brigade Buglers sounding the Last Post. A Canadian Scottish Pipe Band played a lament whilst wreaths were laid. The Ceremony is part of daily life in Ypres, as a tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice to all those who fell in defence of their town.

11 am with a service on board the Marco Polo. We assembled on the open rear deck of the ship. It was a lovely warm and sunny day as we cruised slowly along the D-Day Beaches, passing several naval and other cruise ships. Our three D-Day Veterans were given a place of honour and a standing ovation by all present. The ship’s Director of Ceremonies and Captain, both gave speeches of gratitude for what we all owe to these very brave men, and all those who are no longer with us. Friday was the last day of our cruise and we sailed along the River Seine to the Historic French city of Rouen. Here we were taken on a walking tour of the old city, along narrow streets lined with more than 700 medieval timber-frame houses. Rouen has many churches, including an imposing modern church dedicated to St Joan of Arc, the Patron Saint of France. Close by is the spot where she was burnt at the stake as a witch and a heretic in 1431. During the days on board ship, we were given talks and watched films about wartime figures like: forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn and band leader Glen Miller. Each night we were treated to excellent performances by musicians, singers and dancers. The ships crew and food were excellent throughout our cruise.

POLICE WORLD Vol 64 No.4, 2019

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