Our tour of D-Day locations continued with visits including La Fiere Bridge, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach and the humbling expanse of the Normandy American Cemetery.
A new day began with a nutritious mess tin of porridge to fuel our busy schedule. Our first task was to strike our tents and pack the minibus, as we would be travelling throughout the day and staying in a new campsite that evening.
La Fiere Bridge
The first stop was a few miles west of Sainte-Mère-Église, at a memorial to 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, who had been stationed in Portglenone Forest during the lead up to D-Day. At daybreak on 7th June 1944 (D-Day +1), the glidermen of the 325th landed and joined paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne in their objective of capturing La Fière bridge. This crossing point over the Meredet river was vital in allowing the massing troops and tanks on Utah beach to advance inland.
We walked the 600 metre route to La Fiere Bridge, and crossed over to visit the memorial park honouring the men involved in the fierce three day struggle to secure the bridge and raised causeway. A bronze statue of a paratrooper, nicknamed “Iron Mike”, symbolises the courage and sacrifice of the airborne troops. Although lesser known, the Battle of La Fière played a pivotal role in the liberation of France. With some historians claiming it was the battle that saved D-Day.
Utah Beach
We returned to the minibus and drove to Utah Beach, along the approximate route that US troops would have followed inland. Utah beach was the first to be stormed by the Allies on D-Day, and was chosen as the beachhead from which it capture the deepwater port of Cherbourg. After treading the sands of the beach itself, we entered the museum which tells the story of D-Day in chronological order from preparations to successful conclusion.
The immersive collection brings to life the German defences, the French occupation and the Allied planning. Numerous land, sea and air vehicles are on display including one of the few remaining Martin B-26 Marauder bombers.
Camping Le Cruelet
With time marching on, we hopped back on the minibus and drove to our next campsite, where we would be stationed for two nights. After setting up our tents and testing our culinary skills with a vegetable curry, we settled into our camping chairs for that evening’s Bible talk. Jonathan based his talk around Major Richard Winters, focusing on how he was disciplined in his Christian faith and built good moral character which made him stand out among the men he led into battle.
Our third day in France began with a surprise for the boys. Hidden within the minibus since we left Ahoghill were ration packs we had assembled to approximate what Allied soldiers would have ate during WW2. Boys and leaders alike were issued their share, which included breakfast and lunch for the day ahead. The variety of items made them a noticeable upgrade from the rations ate during our WW1 battlefield tour in 2016.
Omaha Beach
With the oats from breakfast filling our stomachs, we drove to our first location of the day. The walk from the minibus to Omaha beach featured several memorials including an impressive granite obelisk commemorating the fallen of the 1st United States Infantry Division. We explored the dark, damp remains of Widerstandsnest 62 (Resistance Nest 62), the concrete bunkers from which the Nazis rained devastating machine gun fire onto the American troops below.
We continued down the hill onto Omaha beach, and walked along it’s length for a time reflecting on the significance of what was achieved by the Allies on these sandy shores, before climbing back up the wooded slopes to where we had started.
Normandy American Cemetery
Next was a poignant visit to the Normandy American Cemetery. Row upon row of carefully maintained headstones commemorate 9,389 of America’s military dead, including three Medal of Honour recipients – Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Jimmie W. Monteith and Frank D. Peregory. We tasked the boys with locating these gold lettered headstones, and at each graveside read about the exemplary actions which earned each man the highest honour in the US military.
To honour those who were never found or identified, the semicircular Wall of the Missing stands on the east side of the cemetery, inscribed with 1,557 names.
Overlord Museum
We drove to the Overlord Museum and squeezed the minibus into the packed carpark, where we ate lunch. Some opted to eat their tinned meat cold, while others fried it in their mess tin.
The walk to the museum entrance was lined with various tanks, tank destroyers and other armoured vehicles. The museum itself was jam packed with full scale dioramas showcasing German and Allied vehicles and equipment. The collection includes the ‘FAMO’, an enormous half-track artillery tractor built by the German Army. One of only twelve still in existence, it was used for the installation of coastal batteries around Normandy and for the repair of Panzer tank units.
Campsite
We returned to Camping Le Cruelet, and treated the boys to a BBQ. Jonathan gave another Bible talk continuing his study of Richard Winters and what we can learn from his Christian witness. We spent the remaining daylight hours expanding our cultural horizons playing French boules and Finnish skittles.