From: International Movie Services (ims@telus.net)
Date: Fri May 28 2004 - 08:10:09 PDT
Nigel:
Reminds me of the 50th commemoration! Doreen and I were official guests
sponsored by Veterans Affairs, Canada. We were "living" in a Canadian 1942
dated bell tent in "Mud City" near Arromanches, and had borrowed John
Marchant's 1500cwt CMP as our only transportation. On the morning of June
6th 1994 we had an official pass to drive from Arromanche to the assembly
area for delegates to the international assembly at Omaha Beach.
Security was maximum, and "Mud City" was locked down, literally, with the
gates to the public road locked and secured by a squad of Gendarmes. We
drove up to the gate with our pass but were unable to convince the officer
in charge to unlock the gate and let us through.
With the clock ticking and my level of frustration rising my poor command of
the French language failed me! I turned aside to a Brit who had also been
having a difference of opinion ans said "I might as well speak German to
him!", he replied, "You might as well, he's from Strasbourg!" I may be a
failure at French but my German isn't bad (three tours with NATO), and I
could see the dawn of realization cross the Gendarme's face! He beamed at
me, shook my hand, spoke into his radio and his entire detachment formed
single rank both sides of the gate. With Gallic flourish, he unlocked the
gates, flung them open and waved us out onto the main road. As we rolled
ahead he brought his men to attention, presented arms and saluted as we
passed through. Every intersection from Arromanche to Omaha was secured by
Police and military personnel who obviously were in radio contact, because
as we approached they would form ranks, came to attention and saluted as we
roared by. Damn hard to keep driving in a straight line when the tears
start! As far as I know, ours was the only historic military vehicle on the
roads of Normandy on the morning of the 50th.
What had I said to the Gendarme? My Father landed with the Gordon
Highlander's on D-Day and was badly wounded and evacuated back to Scotland
in July; my cousin landed with the Canadian Scottish and is still in
Normandy in Bernieres sur Mer cemetery. I have his letter written from the
landing craft dated 0015hrs 06 June 1944. and the letter from Bob Osbourne,
the Padre, to the family. It says:
"Frank believed in the cause for which we are fighting and for which he
died".
Basically says it all, doesn't it?
God Bless, keep the memories alive!
Ian Davidson Newby, Maj. (CF), ret.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nigel Hay" <Nigel@milweb.net>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 6:24 AM
Subject: [MV] news from Normandy (OK so you risk losing the will to live)
> The nearest town to me is Vire and its absolute chaos today.
> Why? Because the main roundabout in centre of la ville is being florally
> dressed to welocome the 76 vets of the 116th who liberated Vire on August
> 7th 1944 - out town is putting on a huge do for them on the 7th June
> including a Son et Lumiere and all the schools are closed to allow the
> children to take part and to fete the liberators. I am amused to see how
the
> rounabout is using WW2 sand tracking (PSP) as part of the display.
> All HMV movement is banned witihin the Exclusion zone around the landing
> beaches on the 6th.
>
> more to follow if need be.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "everette" <194cbteng@bellsouth.net>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 1:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [MV] M1009 Painting ideas
>
>
> > we have a large Mennonite community here and before their council ruled
it
> > was a was of resources they as a matter of course painted over any and
all
> > chrome on automobiles they purchased and all they did was to lightly
sand
> > and paint with spray cans.
> >
> > Everette
> >
> > "----- Original Message -----
> > From: "MV Don Low" <MVdonlow@hotmail.com>
> > To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 10:11 PM
> > Subject: [MV] M1009 Painting ideas
> >
> >
> > OK, I got Manual locking hubs installed today, Crome as all get out,
> Driving
> > me nuts , My Son (who put them on, pollished them ) YUCK. well he did
> put
> > em on for me !
> >
> > So light sandpaper and paint em black, like the old auto hubs ?
> >
> > Ideas ? whats a easy way to scuff the crome up so it will take the
> paint
> > ?
> > Best paint Krylon ?
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
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