A group of ten from 2nd Ahoghill BB departed Ireland to embark on an eight day camping trip exploring historical sites throughout Normandy, France.
We met at Brookside on Monday morning, and climbed onboard the minibus for the four hour journey south to catch our ferry in Rosslare, County Wexford. Storm Floris had arrived from the Atlantic during the night, but thankfully had little effect on our plans. Although a few unexpected gusts added excitement to an otherwise uneventful drive.
Rosslare
The seaside village of Rosslare greeted us with a taste of the sunny, blue skies we would enjoy throughout the trip. We parked on the Coast Road and set off on foot in search of something to eat. BaiLi Chinese Take Away was our food of choice, which we carried across the road to enjoy on the sandy dunes of Rosslare Strand.
Salamanca
With our check in time approaching, we completed the short drive along the coast to the port, and joined the queue of eager travellers. Soon we were onboard Brittany Ferries Salamanca, our home for the next eighteen hours. We spent the evening enjoying the live music and table quiz provided, before retiring to our cabins for a good night’s sleep.
We regrouped for breakfast on Tuesday morning, and chatted about the day ahead as the French coastline grew larger in the sea-soaked windows. After eating our fill, we gathered our luggage and returned to the minibus to await disembarkment in Cherbourg.
Normandy
We exited the ferry around midday and, with our passports freshly stamped, our continental adventure had officially begun. The thirty minute journey to Sainte-Mere-Eglise began the strange process of learning to drive on the right hand side, and navigating roundabouts anticlockwise. Despite these novelties we arrived safely in the picturesque town, which was one of the first to be liberated from Nazi occupation by American troops during World War 2.
Before stopping at our campsite, we continued on to visit memorials for Major Richard Winters and Easy Company, whose stories were made famous by the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. We also visited the nearby gun battery locations at Breacourt Manor, which were featured in the second episode “Day of Days”.
Sainte-Mère-Église
We drove back to Sainte-Mère-Église to check in to our campsite, and set up our tents. With accommodation sorted, we walked back into the town centre to explore our surroundings. The focal point of St Mary’s Church, from which the town is named, features a life size replica of a paratrooper entangled on the steeple. A commemoration of Private John Steele, who suffered the same fate during his parachute jump on 6th June 1944. We took the opportunity to look inside the church, and marvelled at the stained glass window which depicts and honours the American paratroopers.
We happened to arrive on market day, allowing us to browse the bustling stalls filled with local produce and souvenirs. However it was the nearby military surplus stores which drew the most attention, and earned several purchases from our group.
Airborne Museum
With our shopping complete for the day, we walked across the town square to the Airborne Museum. Dedicated to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions of the US Army, the museum comprises on five main buildings –
Occupation Pavallion – focuses on the Nazi occupation and French resistance in the local area.
C-47 Building – houses a Douglas C-47 Skytrain and other immersive exhibits detailing the US airborne operations.
Operation Neptune – realistic dioramas retell the events of D-Day, from the initial paratrooper drops, to the fierce battles to secure Sainte-Mère-Église and the surrounding bridges.
WACO Pavallion – explores the development and use of gliders during WW2, including the impressive centrepiece of a restored WACO CG-4A glider.
Ronald Reagan Conference Center – currently displaying a temporary exhibition entitled Indochina: French paratroopers from 1944 to 1954.
Campsite
We returned to camp for dinner. After a hearty serving of pasta, we gathered for our first Bible talk on the week. Tommy shared about Private Clint Riddle, who was stationed in Portglenone Forest with 325th Glider Infantry Regiment in 1943. Following the war Clint finally answered the LORD’s call to ministry, and became a pastor in his hometown.
Tommy compared this to the story of Jonah, and highlighted the importance of answering the call of the LORD by first trusting in Jesus for salvation, and then living in
“a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”.
The rest of the evening was spent relaxing at camp, before hitting the hay ahead of the next day’s activities.
