ROOM 48

THE GREAT GALLERY

ONCE MORE UNTO……. NORMANDY

ROLAND JONES

Taking advantage of the Lottery Funding of "Heroes Return", four members of the Air Formation Signal Regiments Association (AFSRA) joined together for a visit to Normandy in September 2005.
The trip was booked by Dennis Egan (GW4XKE - RSARS) through The War Research Society based on his good experience with them 6 years earlier.

On parade were Founder Member & Secretary/Treasurer of AFSRA Dennis Egan (011) with his neighbour from the Vale of Glamorgan Alan Chick (224). They travelled to Birmingham, where the War Research Society is based. They were joined there by AFSRA Membership Secretary Chris Collier (043) and his wife Marion who had travelled from Wolverhampton. They stayed in a Birmingham Hotel overnight ready for an early departure for France next morning.
On arrival at Dover Ferry Terminal they were joined by Roland Jones (211) and his wife Pamela. The Ferry crossing to Calais gave time to reminisce. Chris and Roland recalled they were together 61 years ago on a Landing Ship Tank, from Portsmouth to Normandy with 12th Air Formation Signals. During that crossing Roland was detailed for Guard duty at 0200hours down in the hold of the ship and in complete darkness, he stood alone with fixed bayonet guarding a Sherman Tank. Roland recalled that "We eventually disembarked onto Mulberry Harbour and on reaching the beach Chris's lorry broke down. He was ordered to remain in. the vehicle with a Bren gun for protection awaiting rescue services to attend!"
After arriving in Calais the coach took us to Hotel Novotel in Rouen. The following morning we left Rouen for a tour of the Southern Normandy Battlefields. At each of the battle sites we were given a comprehensive and graphic account of the actions that took place in June, July & August 1944. Our narrator was Rupert van der Horst, who completed 33 years commissioned service with the Royal Marines.
The day included visits to Vimoutieres, the Falaise Pocket, and Hill 112. There we were given a vivid description of the key Battle of the Falaise Gap. Fierce fighting resulting in enormous losses on all sides ended on 21st August and that signalled the destruction of the Germans in Normandy. The German Cemetery at La Cambe puts the whole thing in perspective when you see the graves of 21,202 men plus a communal burial mound of another 296 whose names are unknown. The Polish cemetery tells a similar story.
By the time we reached our Hotel at Caen all 42 passengers on board had become very friendly and a good atmosphere prevailed during dinner and afterwards. The group comprised a wide range of ages, the youngest being a 7 year old girl and others in their eighties. Some of the party were revisiting areas where they had served, while others were visiting the graves of lost loved ones. There was also a young family with four boys interested to learn more of this important part of history.

Normandy Airborne Troops Museum

Roland (Roli) P.S.Jones, Pamela Jones, Dennis K. Egan (Sherman tank to the right)

Young Service people - French, Belgian, American etc. being told the history of D-Day 1944 by the local Mayor

Next day was devoted to the American sector. At St. Mère les deux Eglises we saw the church where the US paratrooper John Steele became suspended on the steeple. (As seen in the film "The Longest Day"). A model still hangs there commemorating the event. Utah and Omaha beaches together with the museum and visit to Pointe Du Hoc proved moving and interesting but the most poignant part of the day was the visit to the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. This beautifully kept area overlooking the beach contains the graves of 9386 war dead, 307 of which are unidentified with their cross being inscribed "known unto God". Another 1557 missing Servicemen are remembered on a memorial. It was interesting to learn that a further 14,000 bodies were repatriated to America at the request of their next-of-kin for them to be buried on American soil.

Dennis Egan, GW4XKE on Utah Beach

As a matter of respect we wore our medals during visits to cemeteries. This resulted in people, young and old, wishing to shake our hands and offer their thanks for their liberation.

Remembrance and thanksgiving

Our final day was spent in the area where Forces under the command of Field Marshal Montgomery landed. We started at the British Military Cemetery at Bayeux where over 4,000 Commonwealth soldiers are buried along with 505 other nationalities, mostly German. Before leaving we joined together in a short Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance - Dennis Egan recited the exhortation "They shall grow not old as we who are left grow old" We followed this with a visit to the Bayeux Museum, then on to Arromanches where the remains of the Mulberry Harbour are clearly visible.

Pegasus Bridge (originally known as Benouville Bridge) was our next stop. It was renamed Pegasus in honour of the 6th British Airborne Division who recaptured it in the early hours of 6th June. One of the guys who landed there attended the Royal Signals Association Reunion at Blandford Forum in June and marched with Chris and Roland on the WW2 Veterans' March Past.
The Museum contains many interesting exhibits and photographs of the action on 6th June. It also has a full size replica of a HORSA Glider. We later visited the Church Cemetery at Ranville where Lt. Den Brotheridge (first casualty of D-Day) lies buried.

A brief stop was made at Ranville cemetery where one of our party laid a wreath on her brother's grave. He was killed on D-Day and she makes an annual pilgrimage to the grave. The final visit of the tour was to The Merville Battery. A 40 acre site with four casemates containing 150mm guns, several pillboxes, an underground command post and a heavily mined area surrounding it all.
A remarkable feat by The Parachute Regiment commanded by Lt.Col. T.B.H. Otoway captured this heavily guarded fortress and saved it from bombarding the landing at Sword Beach. The attack on this site was described as epic but with a heavy loss of men. To this day 192 men of the 9th Parachute Battalion are missing from the first night.

On our return to Calais we drove over the Troarn Bridge. The scene of one of the most daring raids deep in enemy territory in the early hours of D-Day morning when the Bridge crossing the Dives river was demolished. The bridge was replaced after the war and renamed Major Roseveare Bridge to honour the officer in charge of the action, On arrival at Dover we were subjected to strict immigration control. Before the coach left for the journey back to Birmingham, some passengers took their leave sorry to say goodbye to new found friends.
A worthwhile and interesting trip which highlighted the skill and bravery of the Allied Forces.

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