Cameraguy's D-Day anniversary trip

After a few requests,I thought I would let you all in on how the trip went.

We stayed at a small town called Barbery,not far fro Caen. Afer getting situated and checking out the area (where over 100 Canadians were killed by friendly fire/bombing) I and my group visited the Canadian and British beaches. We laid NS flags with poppys's at cemeteries and took photos of each with a NNSH glengarry (worn by an "original" NNSH). We did this with all graves of all NNSH's who were buried in Beny sur Mere and Brettevile sur Laize. This idea was for those family members who could not make it to France are able to see that there relatives have not been forgotten.

We also toasted the NNSH's and other Veterans on Juno Beach on the morning of June 6th.  


The trip to Normandy was an amazing trip of tribute and dedication to specifically the NNSH's,but to all Veterans in the end.  

Being the narcissist I am, I wore an authentic period BD on one day...the day that was the coolest as it was quite hot most of the time.

The shoulder flashes,Div patches,puttees,socks and shirt were all from NNSH D-Day Veteran Lt.Andrew Clark Gow (September 11, 1918/September 21, 2013). I like to think he would be proud he went back to Normandy on the 70th anniversary,and was remembered with all of his comrades in such a way.

Trousers are from NNSH D-Day Support Co.Veteran E. Latham,tunic is a 1944 dated officers I purchased from France. It was wee tight,but I had to diet even to fit into it then! It was worth it though. The tam was purchased from a NS dealer,and the officers hat badge was gifted to me. Webbing was bought from collectors,and some donated to me for the cause.  

For those who are thinking I did,it was not worn by me to take on the Germans or anyone else while there,I did not beat it up,I did not damage it in any way. It is now my prized possession. It was an amazing,amazing trip that saw the sale of approximately two hundred of my self produced DVD's "The Fighting North Novies;Into the Fire!" pay the way for the curator of the NSH museum in Amherst NS,as well as pay for the accommodation and transportation of Master Corporal Paul Franklin,a 1st Field Ambulance Afghanistan Veteran who was wounded in 2006 by an I.E.D.

Here are just a few pics.

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Nice photographs. Did you attend the ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre?

Looks like you had a great trip and I think it's fantastic you paid tribute to our soldiers in whatever way you wanted to!

I would like to make a suggestion that you copy the trip info and pics into a separate thread where it will get more attention. The thread title and location aren't great attention grabbers. If you need help I can split the topic and leave a copy here as well

Good on ya, my son!! BRAVO ZULU !!

Ian

Looks like you had a great tine for sure. Hanging out with Paul Franklin is always interesting.

I agree, a separate topic is in order, so this does not get lost. Maybe one of the mods can split this topic, as opposed to you having to redo it.

Done, if you want to edit thread title and you can't, let me know and I'll take care of it.

Nice pics! Looked like you had a blast.

Thanks guys,appreciate the kind words! Hopefully this thread will not get lost,thanks for the help.

Yes,made it to the Juno Beach Ceremonies,Abbaye D'ardenne ceremonies as well. As I stood in the doorway to the garden where our guys were led through before they met their ends,I was met at the door by several current serving Canadian Forces people. I stood there and thanked them as they walked through,not realizing there were over 75-100 more after them. It was a very special 20 minutes of handshakes and thanks,the end of the line being occupied by (among others) Lieutenant-General J.M.M. Hainse, CMM, MSC, CD who was a very cool,down to earth fella it seemed.

Met some amazing people/dignitaries who were also there who knew much about what I do and truly "got it".There was even one who seemed to not give two hoots about me and my organization does...a very "infamous" one at that who should have been the one to show the most interest. Anyway.
:/

It was an amazing trip.

Here are one or two more pics

NNSH Support Co. D-Day Veteran and friend Earl Jewers
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Abbaye D'Ardenne memorial garden
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Congratulations on a fantastic trip - a wonderful tribute to the NNSH vets who fought in Normandy!

Well done!

You were wearing the Veterans Voices of Canada polo shirt at the ceremony too, right? I stood right behind you. Who would have thought that.

Wouter wrote:You were wearing the Veterans Voices of Canada polo shirt at the ceremony too, right? I stood right behind you. Who would have thought that.

That is pretty cool. You should have said hello!
Cheers!

I was planning on doing so after the ceremony but we had to leave early. I think you're doing a great job interviewing veterans. You interview veterans from different regiments, right? I concentrate solely on the Canadian Scottish and have done interviews with quite a number of veterans. Am going over again on the 7th. Hope to get the first draft of my book printed by then so I can give them to everyone who has helped me along the way.

Yes sir!

For my organization I do interview Veterans who want to speak and have a story to tell...for history and education. That said,several of my uncles were North Nova Scotia Highlanders,and I try to continue on with that story as well. A book is planned,as well as a doc on the trip to Normandy this past few weeks.

I did an interview with one Canadian Scottish Veteran.His name is Stan Baird from Drumheller,Alberta...a very good guy.

Cheers!

Cameraguy wrote:

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I'm curious why you chose to wear puttees? How common was the use of puttees during the D Day time frame? I would have expected to see web anklets (gaiters). Not saying it's wrong, perhaps it's a unit specific thing that I'm not familiar with.

Well, to tell the truth...I mistakingly took the small size gaiters instead of the lg size. My bad. :P

Fortunately,I put the gaiters into my bag to bring back to Normandy. They were part of a D-Day Veterans kit.What buggers to get on especially since the pants were a...wee...bit...tight.
No splits though guys,no splits! I did not damage the pants!

One of those "D'oh!" moments. That's unfortunate.

Yup,I like the look of them,just not putting them on! Fortunately I had a Nova Scotia Highlander RSM with me to show me the right way to do it! I would like to have a pair of invasion boots to negate the need altogether,but we know how easy those are to come by.

Cheers,and thanks for taking it easy on me.Presentation is everything! Lol

Hi,
It was a very nice trip! Thanks for all :)

Flo'

Thanks for participating Flo!

It was great to see appreciation of our Veterans by youth like yourself in France. It opened my eyes to the fact that there is much appreciation there for what our Veterans did. Here is Flo showing his appreciation with Earl Jewers,NNSH Veteran at Bretteville sur Laize Canadian War Cemetery this year.

Cheers and thanks again Flo! Your caring for our Veterans means much to them,and much to us Canadians.


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Thanks Al for sharing the pic! :)
Al and Earl have a piece of exploded fuze, which exploded the morning of the 17 September 1944 at Boulogne sur mer, where Earl fought! This photo was taken after the gift to Earl.

Cheers!