Well ive done a topic for the last few years about my trip to Normandy, this one has been the most special because it was the return of my friend Len Smith after 63 years. It was touch and go if I would make it but im so glad I did.


Steve, Pat and Len on the ferry, breakfast time!!


Dinner at the hotel


outside the 3 gliders, Ian, Steven, Gary and Rach


Juno beach



more to come

Trying not to repeat too many of the excellent photos that Steven has already posted

Also a really big well done to Steve and Pat for escorting Len and being amazing escorts for him, great job lads.






The house as it was




Steven and Len


Ian and Len


Gary and Len


Steve and Len


Everyone else got a hand shake apart from Rach lol

For some reason I didnt get Pat and Len on Juno beach so heres one of them in the Canadian war cem

See, what did I say?? Len's a womaniser!!!

Lovely photos, Andy.

Great to see Lens infectious smile again ! Lovely montage Andy, youve caught some great moments mate.

Looks like a fine time was had by all.

Great pics

Ade

Just a point of note ... in the Canadian cemetary there was some beautifull Maple trees. Always set in rows of 3 and only 3.

It occured to me and Len that it was because of the laying to rest of the men of the Canadian 3rd Division here that gave the Architect the idea to put the trees in sets of 3. A more beautifull cemetry one could not find. The biuldings were erected laser perfect with not a drop of mortar out of place. Additionally the geometry of the crosses was immaculate. rows upon rows married in symmetry for perpetuatry.

Excellent photo's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to all who participated in Len's special visit! You are all to be commended.

Len, you look wonderful. There you are in your sharp blazer and trews along side all those scalawags in their jeans and scruffies! At least most of them shaved for the occasion.

I'm looking forward to hearing Len's review of his visit. I'm sure it was a very poignant and emotional tour for him. You guys were really stand-up to organize and arrange to escort Len.

Sure wish I were there!

Best, BK

Sorry I didnt reply to your text Nathalie, I didnt take my phone charger as I was originally going to be in the tent, so my phone went dead. It was such a shame you could not have come with us to Arromanche, but totally understandable after your long drive with Ryan.
















A crowd starts to gather around Len, and the cameraman who was filming the American vets is now watching Len!


Now the local Mayor also wants to meet Len Smudger Smith from Brum!


Even autographs are sought

OUTSTANDING storytelling, Andy!! Just wonderful to see how this visit unfolded. BK

One for the ages my friends.......

Really appreciated the before and after photo of the hotel. Most poignant, for me, are Len & Pat in the cemetary-------has a smoky, voices of the past sort of aura to it. Very nice.

Im just so glad I was able to get across, no small thanks goes to Rach who said to me, "you are going" I would have been so gutted to of missed it, so thanks Rach, I love ya.

The trip was just amazing from the word go, from when we got into the ferry car park, Steve, Pat and Len pulled up at the same as Ian arrived by taxi so we had a quick hello and then got into the queue for the ferry. Once on board the ferry was full of vets and who should I bump into, but Peter and Pam Thompson, chairman and social secretary of the Surrey Normandy veterans association. I met them back last year in my local supermarket and they wrote to me after taking my address and now here they were on the ferry!! So I sat down with Pam and had a chat about things, she was telling me that she had her hands full with some of the old boys because on their coach they had some young female soldiers I was later to bump into Pam at Arromanche on the 6th, where she asked if I would distribute service orders to the vets in the town? You bet I will hehe. Of course one of the first vets I gave one to was Len!

So on the ferry was Len, Steve, Pat, Gary, and Ian and next to us were the Surrey NVA members and then Barry Parr (son of Wally) came over to chat to some 7th Paras sat behind us, he was showing them his book he had just published about his father. So I asked Barry if he had any copies that me and Ian could buy. Well he couldnt get to his car to get anymore copies so I managed to buy the one he was showing to the paras, and then he came back over and showed us his album that he had put together in memory of his father which had some amazing stuff in it. Im sure I can say for those of us who looked at it, that it was an honour and a rare bit of history looking at all the original photos and stuff in it, so thanks Barry for that.

Anyway that was just the ferry crossing, so as you can see it was really special!!

Andy

British Normandy vets honour their American brothers at Omaha war cem

The intention was to stay in my tent as usual, BUT I managed to get the last mobile home available hehe and to celebrate we had a beer. Apologies for abandoning you Ian and Gary, but Rach was so pleased we managed to get a caravan after I showed her the shower house, and also after Gary told us the next morning his fight with the killer rat in the middle of the night which was stalking him under his tent

Very nice, Andy! Terrific pics and stories, as always. Wish I could have been there. Though I don't think I'd have liked to be wrestling with rodents!!! BK

As Gary would say: " all you need is a frying pan"

Gary despatched the 'rat' with his frying pan. It transpired that the large rodent was in fact a field mouse!

I have photographic evidence of the mouse Click Here for picture

Steve

I was just thinking......with the photos of Len 63 years after the fact, are there any of him in uniform during this time?

Andy,

No problem.
At least this year, you didn't have to endure the flat out mattress, the leak in the tent and the wet towel!!

I wanted to take Ryan with me so that he could meet up with Len, even if he doesn't really seize the importance of it, he will later, I hope. Anyway I couldn't do it any other way, no school on Wednesdays for him. You know things are not always simple with kids...

This story about Gary and the rodent is freaky!!!!!
Mind you, a good frying pan can be used to fight off anyone or anything.

Nathalie

Andy and all of his cohorts.. you did such a wonderful job of taking photos and showing our Len one of those Pricless unforgettable days.. I am so proud of all of you for taking our gentle man on such an outstanding journey. I so wish I had been there to meet all of you. (Looks like Rachel was a hit..thats great. )

Len I am so pleased for you that you had the opportunity to make this journey. Many blessings come to good men..
Hugs & kisses across the sea to you and Irene
Cindy

The only one I have of Len during wartime is this one of Len and his mate in Egypt

Back outside the 3 gliders for a beer or two, 5th June



Cafe Gondree, 7 para vets, glider pilots, current members of the air landing brigade gather round for free champagne provided by Madam Gondree. Although with the prices they charge in Gondree for souveniers they could afford to supply everyone with champers!!!

Becoming a ritual now, Penny Bates (Major Howard's daughter) playing a recording of her father telling the story of what it was like in glider prior to landing, its something else listening to the recording at that place, at that time, very errie!!


The 6th June in Ranville at the 13th Para memorial service, vets starting to gather. Bit of an early one this service!! I manage to meet Patrick and his lovely family as usual too.



Arthur Ashton of the Ox and bucks meeting up with mates



chance for old mates to catch up

After the 13th battalion service, it was up to the the church yard to pay respects at Den Brotheridge's grave.


Penny Bates, Major Howard's daughter with Tich Rayner Ox and Bucks


Tich Rayner


Len gets to meet Patrick (Patelie) who is on the left




John Tillet with the frame, he took over from Major Howard after his crash. Pretty amazed that he managed to make it to Normandy, he has been very unwell at times over the last couple of years.


Arlette Gondree at the service in Ranville war cem


Arlette with Commando's, who im sure were ones who crossed the bridge with Lovatt






Glider pilot veteran

Back down to Pegasus bridge


The standard bearer on the right, was in 7 para and Pine Coffins body guard (SAS)

After the service across Pegasus, the Ox and Bucks party march back across to meet up with 7 para and then Arlette Gondree outside the cafe to march to the 7 para monument at the crossroads.

Hello Andy
On the left are Jim Clinton and Fred Walker (L to R). Both from the 3 Commando

BTW, Happy also to meet you again and, of course, Mr Leonard J. Smith

Thanks Patrick for the names, ive certainly seen Jim Clinton before!! A pleasure to catch up with you again as always, see you next year!

Andy

Superb photos, Andy. Let's see how long we can keep this going. I will post my pictures very soon. I had a busy family weekend. Also looking forward to seeing Pat's video footage.

Steve

Well I'm working on it! I'm just trying to 'acquire' a decent video editing package. Then I have learn how to use it of course!!!

I have managed to transfer the footage to my PC, though uncompressed the total file size is over 11gb!!!

I'll have to get it re-sized to a more manageable level - I'm hunting through some dedicated forums for some advice at the moment - well I am on my lunch break!!!

The footage is ok actually, so fingers crossed!.

Keep you all posted.

Later,

Pat.

11GB!!! Too big for YouTube!!

I'll wait paitiently for the fruits of your labour!

Steve

Cant wait either Pat, im assuming mate that your putting the footage on a DVD? I need to pop into a chemists and put some pics on a cd for Len. Be good to see your pics Steve I reckon we got every angle covered

Andy

June 6th at the Juno beach center (very windy and very chilly)


Len chating to our official interpreter, Steven




Len going to place his wreath at the Juno beach memorial








Len getting yet another addy from a lady

Andy, Steve, Patrick, Pat, Ian, Rachel, Gary, and any one else I missed who made this happen you guys are the best. I'm jealous as hell I wasn't there, but I'm thankful that people the caliber of yourselves exist to do such a great thing for a good man like Len Smith. I'll never forgive myself for not being there but I'm eternally grateful you all made this happen.

cheers!

Andy, more kudos to you! Great reporting. Terrific to see Mr. Rayner, Mr. Tillet, Arlette Gondree and our Pat Elie! Nice to see you, Patrick!

It seems it was another memorable D-Day commemoration for you, Andy! Truly magical. Gawd! I wish I'd been there. BK

Thanks Rob, but all the plaudits must go to Steve and Pat, they are the ones who made it happen, the rest of us just went along for the ride so to speak and were lucky enough to be there!

Indeed it was BK, the 60th for me was just amazing and something I will never forget just for the sheer scale of it all and getting to meet so many vets like Wally Parr, David Wood and many of the other coup de main vets that id read about, but this was much more personal.

Andy

Cheers Andy! I'll defer to your appreciation. Steve and Pat made this last week happen. But please don't sell yourself short. Without you, over here in the USA, we would have never known Len's story...

Cheers!

-Robert

Hello there Robert, I would definitely guide you praises to the Messrs Steve and Pat, thay were the instruments of the origination and due success of this trip. They remain reserved and very British about it all, which is our way. As a group , once together I feel we gelled immediately and this coupled with our respect and interest in Len gave us a seemless and extremely co-herent trip.
I`m sure that Pat and Steve had some irreplaceable private moments and experiences with Len which must be their just rewards for their efforts.

For me having a "personal veteran" was the tops, it was like walking on air Robert mate.

Andy,

Excellent photos and narration! I am so glad you made it to Normandy and I am appreciative to the whole group of you who made this possible for Len. It is really heartwarming. I wish I could have been there. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Best,

Crystal xo

Thanks guys this is a fantastic and comprehensive report of your trip. im insanely jealous now id've loved to have been there!!!
And of course its great to see Len in action

JUST INCREDIBLE!! THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY!!

Very good pic's, wish i could have been there.


Dave

Well, as I said in my PM to Steve yesterday - it's going really well. I took the night off last night as the previous few nights I didn't get to bed until about 3am.

I'm going to have to stop myself tweaking and changing things all the while and settle on a final print - so to speak.

I've intercut it with a small background documentary on D-Day (about 12mins) then pieced together the footage I took along with some of the still images off the digital camera. I've dubbed the original sound out (the usual wind hiss that you get with these home video cameras) and dropped some music over the top. You might recognise a couple of the tracks when it's finally ready to burn to DVD. They're not that obvious but still quite emotive and related to the occasion.

I'm just about to start on the DUKW footage from Omaha - so still a fair bit to do - so fingers crossed.

Regards,

Pat.

Blimey Pat sounds like its gonna be a Spielberg production hehe
Your sleep patterns sound similar to mine!

Thanks again for the comments folks, much appreciated

andy

Pat cant wait my friend.

Man, I love this topic. My favorite part is the all the SMILES on Len's face.



Brooke

Thnx for sharing the great pics ,good to see you all had a good time

Bryan

Morning All,

Glad to see that people are still taking an interest in this thread.

For those that missed it the first time around - here is the link for the video footage that I took whilst we were out there.

The response has been amazing - thanks to one and all who did reply, it certainly was an event that we will all remember for a long long time!!!

http://uk.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=4A4FF6C7CDB16A9D

Regards,

Pat.

Great footage !

I´m going to forward it to a friend of mine who´s going to visit Normandy next month.