D-Day - “The Longest Day”



“ OK, we’ll go”, and with these words General Eisenhower, supreme commander of Allied Forces in Europe set in train events which would resound around the world. June 6th 1944, the Longest Day. On this day in history the largest invasion fleet the world has ever seen set sail from Britain for the coast of Normandy to embark on an truly epic venture, the liberation of Europe from Nazi tyranny. The greater part of Europe had lain under the domination of Nazi Germany for four and one half years and now the time had come for the free world to reclaim its heritage.

After many days of agonising the decision was made. The weather forecast was far from ideal but Eisenhower was all too well aware that thousands of soldiers had been aboard vessels for three days and security was stretched to the limit. It was now or never.

“OK – we’ll go !” Gen. Eisenhower ( left ) and Heads of Service, including Field Marshal Montgomery, seated right .

Secure telex lines and printers began to clatter the length and breadth of Britain. The long wait was over – the great adventure was on. Thousands of servicemen began their preparations, making their peace in their own way. For them the longest day of their lives was about to begin.

“Les sanglots longs des violins de L’Automne” – the first lines of Verlaine’s poem “Chanson D’Automne” were broadcast by the BBC World Service on 1st June 1944 as a pre-cursor to the invasion. On receipt of these lines Resistance units up and down the coast of Normandy and others further inland, made ready – they now knew that the invasion was imminent. Their wait was a short but tense one – on 5th June the second set of lines was received – “Blessent mon coeur d’une longueur monotone” – this was it - the invasion would begin within 48 hours!

Our tour takes in a selection of places which were significant in those hectic first 24 hours and which manage to convey the sense and feel of the time. Each location has been selected to highlight a particular facet of the day’s action and contrasts tactics and sacrifice – the common thread which runs through each and every one however is the human endeavour and courage which shines through like a beacon light.

Day 1 looks at two differing “Coup de Main” operations by the airborne forces, and ends with a first look at the beaches. Day 2 looks at the mainstream fighting on and around the beaches, and the beautiful American cemetery at St Laurent; Day 3 rounds off with a look at 2 differing American “Coup de main” operations and a last look at remembrance and the sacrifices made. The following itinerary gives an idea of what there is to see and do. A journey of a lifetime.

D-Day itinerary for a three day tour:

Depart Shuttle 0758hrs, arrive France 0930 local. Drive to Normandy region to arrive on site about 1400hrs with suitable comfort stops en route.

DAY ONE



·        Merville Battery – overview of Operation “OVERLORD”, role of 6th Airborne/Lt.Col. Otway. A daring “Coup de main” operation which went about as wrong as it could yet was still a success. How ?  Visit the well-maintained airborne museum built into the No.1 casemate.









·        Pegasus Bridge – the story of Maj. John Howard and the taking of the bridge – possibly the most successful airborne operation ever mounted. Visit to the recently-opened Pegasus Museum and walk on the actual bridge, preserved and displayed in the museum grounds along with a Horsa Glider. <>





·   Sword Beach – Kieffer memorial and Riva Bella. Hear about the capture of the casino by Free French commandos at Ouistreham, featured in the film “The Longest Day”

Return to accommodation – book in and evening meal. Free time.

DAY TWO

·   Continue British beaches – Juno Beach. Visit where the Canadians landed and see the restored AVRE driven by Bill Dunn and hear his horrific story.

Leading off the beaches were re-entrants, or “draws” between natural obstacles and houses. One in particular led off Juno beach up towards the main road which ran parallel to the beach. It was essential that this draw be captured and kept open. The job was given to 2nd troop of the 26th Assault Squadron, Royal Engineers. This particular AVRE slid into a flooded culvert and was subsequently covered over, to be resurrected in 1976 and turned into a memorial.






AVRE Charlie 1

· Gold Beach – Stan Hollis VC. The only VC to be won on D-Day was won by CSM Stan Hollis of the 6/Green Howards – hear the story and visit the site of action.

·   Arromanches – Mulberry harbour & 360 cinema/museum. The invasion would have been impossible without the extraordinary Mulberry harbours, the remains of which can still be seen outside the harbour.

·   Lunch in Arromanches

·   OMAHA Beach – Dog Green 1 & the Vierville Draw. Dog Green 1 was the setting for the fictional film “Saving Private Ryan” and was the scene of possibly the bloodiest fighting of the first day, where the US 29th Division, a group of men akin to the `PALS’ battalions of the Great War came ashore to be met by murderous fire from German machine guns and mortars.

·   US Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer – graves of Brig.Gen.Theodore Roosevelt and the Neiland brothers, inspiration for the film “Saving private Ryan”. When Theodore Roosevelt died of a heart attack on the 12th July 1944 he was buried in    the cemetery at St Laurent. He had been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour for his part in the fighting of 6th June. His younger brother Quentin, who had died in the Great War, was re-interred to lie beside him.



The American War Cemetery at Collevile-Sur-Mere, St. Laurent



·   UTAH Beach – Roosevelt memorial & museum. Visit the café now built on the site of a former German bunker.

·   La Cambe German Cemetery. This cemetery, once an American burial ground, is a haunting and melancholy place.

Return to accommodation and evening meal.

Free time.

DAY THREE

·   Pointe Du Hoc – US Rangers assault. The US Rangers were given the task of knocking-out German guns atop the cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc, and they were to come in from the sea, scale the cliffs and seize the Guns and destroy them. Hearwhat happened, and why…









Bunkers at Pointe du Hoc



·   St.Mere Eglise – Private John Steele. The story of Pte. John Steele is one ofthe most enduring tales of D-Day. No-one who has seen the Film “The Longest Day” can forget the sight of Pte Steele, played in the film by Red Buttons, hanging on his parachute lines being slowly deafened by the bells of St Mere Eglise church. In tribute to Pte Steele the people of St. Mere Eglise display a full-size dummy paratrooper from the steeple of the church at most times of the year. There are many delightful coffee shops and other places in the town square where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere of this historic town.

The newly-renovated US airborne museum contains a full-size C-47 transport plane perhaps better known as the “Dakota” as well as many other artefacts and weapons from the conflict.

There will be an opportunity to visit the new US Airborne museum and to browse the military memorabilia shops for that special souvenir. Many of the scenes for the epic “Band of brothers” were shot near here and some of the militaria shops have items from the series for sale.



The church in St. Mere Eglise



·   Lunch/coffee in St. Mere Eglise

·   Ranville CWGC - tribute to the Paras. Visit the resting place of the 1st man to cross Pegasus bridge, Lt. Den Brotheridge.



There are many interesting graves in this cemetery including the paratrooper who refused to be parted from his jump-dog and who is now buried with him. Opposite the cemetery is a special memorial to Maj.Gen R.N “Windy” Gale who rode to the battle on a magnificent white charger which ironically saved his life when it took the force of a mortar shell which would otherwise have killed Gale.



Typical headstone in Ranville British cemetery



Depart Normandy about 1400 hrs, return to Shuttle ( with stops ) for about 1830, return on 2000 shuttle, back in UK for 1940 local time. ( as with all “Past Endeavours”  tours this itinerary is not set in stone and can be altered to suit the individual customer’s requirements )

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