A connection with historic war battle
Juno and Sword are proud of their own museums and historic centres which highlight the individual and collective experiences of those involved in the heroic mission.
Utah Beach D-Day Museum is built where the first American troops landed on June 6, 1944. On a guided tour I find out about the millions donated by US brothers after they learned their father had been part of the operation here, and their efforts to restore a World
War II plane to the exact likeness of the one he piloted during the war.
For three years running now, hundreds have gathered here during the D-Day festival to release lanterns into the sky in memory of the American soldiers who gave their lives for freedom.
A tour around the Pointe Du Hoc, where US Army Rangers scaled 100-foot cliffs to prevent German soldiers firing on allied forces, is another must-do on the history trail. Taking in undulating landscapes blotted by huge bomb craters, the view down over the steep cliffs and across the bay where much of the fighting took place is a moving sight. it is a moving sight to look At the Normandy American Cemetery in Collevillesur-Mer, I take in the overwhelming sight of 9,387 military graves set in 173 acres of immaculately-kept grounds overlooking Omaha Beach.
I then visit the German Battery at Longues-sur-Mer, which made up part of Hitler’s infamous Atlantic Wall, before ending the day with a stroll along the beach at Arromanches.
Part of Gold Beach, the coast at Arromanches was used to form the artificial Mulberry Harbour, the remains of which are still visible from the shore.
The Hôtel de la Marine provides a cosy place for a night’s stay.
Next morning I dress smartly for the D-Day commemorative ceremony at Pegasus Bridge where more than 90 veterans have been transported to the service by the London Taxi Charity. The Memorial Pegasus Museum is open all CO DURHAM: ORLANDO: year round and pays tribute to the men of the 6th Airborne Division and the missions they carried out before the D-Day Landings. Plus the original Pegasus Bridge is on display in its park.
The Caen Memorial is a museum dedicated to peace and credited as being the best 20th Century warfare exhibition in France. Using films, descriptive boards and real-life exhibits, the museum eloquently explains the build-up to the war and the invasion itself in graphic detail.
The Montormel Memorial, meanwhile, provides a detailed account of the Battle of Normandy, “the beginning of the end of the war”, which is often overlooked. After learning about each stage of the battle, curtains open to reveal a panoramic view of the battlefield.
Dinner that night, is at the nearby Les P’tites Assiettes, a traditional restaurant serving French classics such as steak frites and shellfish.
On my final day I head for the village of Bayeux to see its famous tapestry and to the Bayeux Commonwealth Cemetery. The Royal British Legion D-Day service at Bayeux Cathedral is Normandy’s biggest annual service. Watching wreaths being laid at the altar as a military band play is a fitting end to this poignant trip to the past. THAILAND: DUBAI FLIGHT ONLY: Heathrow to Dubai return with Etihad is £370. Book by Tuesday. Go on dates until Dec 12. See southalltravel.co.uk or ring 0208 705 0086.