On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
lashonharangue
I am a bit of a history nerd, so in December of 2019 my spouse and I rented a car and did a self guided tour of the Normandy D-Day beaches and museums. Because it was off season several of the museums were closed but we still saw and learned a lot.
Before the trip we read Antony Beevor’s history of the invasion and battle for Normandy. The book describes the amount of devastation that occurred with the fighting after the initial landing. Without having read it, I might not have noticed how little older architecture we saw driving around the area.
The Canadian Juno Beach Centre is a great museum. There was lots to see there. I had read about the Enigma machine and the efforts to decipher it at Bletchley Park. This was a chance to see one! Did I mention I am a history nerd?
The far left (east) of the invasion was begun before British troops landed at Sword Beach by airborne troops who arrived in gliders just after midnight to secure the bridges over the Caen canal and the Orne river. This was to ensure they were not destroyed by German troops guarding them. These bridges were needed to allow an eastward exit from the beach. This is the original canal bridge. It was replaced and moved a short distance to sit next to a museum dedicated to the British 6th Airborne Division.
The British trained dogs to parachute with their troops. The dogs had their own version of the Victoria Cross medal for bravery. Three that served with the 6th Airborne Division received the award after the Battle of Normandy.
Original photo of Brian receiving his award. He was a very good boi!
The Merville Battery Museum was closed when we visited. However, we could still walk around the grounds and look at this plane that was used for airborne operations throughout WWII. The plane ended up in Bosnia and was recovered and restored to look period correct. Note the white and black stripes on the wings and tail. This was to prevent it being mistaken for a German aircraft.
We didn’t have time to climb over the remains of the coastal defenses at Omaha beach. We went down to the sand and looked east and west along the shore. This monument is from a French sculptor dedicated to those who landed here.
Dedication by the artist. More photos tomorrow.
Mary G
Wow. Great photos and facts. Looking forward to seeing tomorrow’s set. Love the sculpture.
raven
There is an “Enigma” at the The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum at Cape Hatteras.
PST
This sure brought back memories. Twenty years ago, while I was in London on business, a British friend and I took his car through the Chunnel and visited the Normandy beaches. It seemed like every village had a museum. We had a great time searching for particular sites we were interested in from our reading. I remember my friend especially wanted to see the remains of the Mulberry artificial harbor. We took a little side trip on my insistence to see the Bayeux Tapestry, which was marvelous close up. It was all fun, with good food and calvados along the way, but after visiting the American cemetery at Colleville we drove back to the terminal in somber silence.
Laura Too
Thanks for these, I need to learn more about the dogs. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them. We visited https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chislehurst_Caves once. It was so powerful to walk through history and hear stories from then. We ran out of time before being able to go to the WWII museum but vowed next time.
Lapassionara
Thank you for posting these. For some reason, I have been drawn to the DDay story, maybe even obsessed with it. I have read Bevor’s book, among others, and I am still struck by how many things went wrong, but how much in the end went right. The planning that went into it was so precise and detailed that by the end of the first day, the army had landed company clerks onto the beaches, with everything needed to fill out casualty reports. Such bravery and sacrifice! Several summers ago, I was fortunate to spend several days there. I would go back again if given the opportunity.
raven
@Lapassionara: Have you read Rick Atkinson’s WW2 Trilogy?
Lapassionara
@raven: No, but I will look for it. Thanks.
Ken
Before I read the second plaque with the artist’s explanation, I thought the sculpture depicted swords, and was wondering why it wasn’t at Sword beach. Once a plebian, always a plebian, I guess.
arrieve
June 6 is my birthday, so I’ve always been fascinated by DDay, but have never made it to the Normandy beaches. At least not yet — maybe I’ll do one of those small group tours one of these days when we can travel again. Really interesting pictures — looking forward to the next set.
Betty
@PST: Yes, once you see those acres of grave markers spread out in front of you, you get a different sense of the sacrifice of those young people.
JanieM
These are deeply moving. Thanks, lashonharangue. Looking forward to more.
WaterGirl
@Lapassionara: Thank you for sending these in.
J R in WV
I always enjoy and admire these On the Road pieces, but this is extraordinary!
Wonderful series of photos, looking forward to the next set!
Thanks so much for sharing this…
trollhattan
“The SNAFU Special” is quite the moniker. The DC-47 was a modified version of the DC-3, surely the most successful passenger plane built, given some still operate in 2021.
Dad and my uncle on mom’s side both served in the Navy in the Pacific, so missed the opportunity to invade Europe. I give Spielberg credit for giving us all a sliver of experiencing Normandy in the first 15 minutes of “Private Ryan.” Yoikes.
A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)
About 20 years ago I took a Normandy tour with my mother and one day was dedicated to touring D-Day and the Bayeaux Tapestry. Two different invasions, but both experiences very powerful. The American cemetery on the bluff is in a beautiful setting, so sad and peaceful. The museum at Caen was excellent. Unforgettable day.