June 2019

[Administrator]

Royal British Legion - Paris France

In the run up to the 75th Commemoration of the DDay Landings in Normandy, we pay tribute to the role of the Merchant Navy. Operation Neptune (codename for the DDay Landings), under the command of the British Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, transported men, supplies and vehicles. The Allied Armada crossed the Channel in the night of June 5th-6th, and comprised 4,300 ships and 2600 barges, made up mostly of British, American, Free French, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, Danish & Greek vessels. These transport ships were accompanied by a naval bombardment squadron of between 15-20 warships that opened fire on the German defences 45 mins before H-Hour, taking over from aerial bombardments. The troop ships carried 130,000 men and more than 20,000 vehicles, tanks, lorries, supplies on the 6th June alone. In all, some 150,000 Seamen belonging to the War Fleets & Merchant Navy took part in the Landing Operation. A force equal to the number of troops sent into battle on land on 6th June 1944. By the end of the Battle of Normandy in August 1944, over 2 million men, 400,000 vehicles & 3 million tons of stores and supplies were delivered. About 127 vessels were damaged or lost through enemy action, with the loss of life of many brave Sailors whose graves remain forgotten beneath the waves.

[KG]

RE: D Day 75


It is also important to recognise, respect and remember over 50,000 Merchant Navy Seafarers involved in COMNO...Combined Operations Merchant Navy Operations with 837 merchant ships plus 43 taken up from trade and under Naval Command such as converted Ferries.

These are figures made in a speech given by Winston Churchill at the time.

Records later indicated that 1,260 merchant ships were involved supporting: The 129,710 soldiers landed, 12,500 vehicles and 1,550 tanks plus stores and supplies. It would simply have been impossible without them.

John Sail The Merchant Navy Association.

[KG]

D-Day 75 at Commonwealth War Graves Bayeux War Cemetery .

The 6 June 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings – one of the most remarkable Allied wartime operations.

LINK

[KG]

Plans To Commemorate D-Day 75th Anniversary Released


The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced the details of its plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.

With less than 50 days to go, plans are being finalised by the Royal Navy, Army and the RAF to offer both ceremonial and logistical support to 'D-Day 75'.

In total, more than 4,000 personnel will be involved in the commemorations in both the UK and France, along with at least 11 Royal Navy vessels and multiple aircraft including the Red Arrows and the Spitfire.

LINK

[KG]

Via: Royal British Legion - Paris France


Some Committee Members of our Paris Branch, the Royal Navy Veterans Association, the Merchant Navy Association, & the French Libre Resistance will be present on Sword Beach on DDay to remember Those that lost their lives in the Landings, both at sea and on land. Lest We Forget.

LINK

[RBL - Paris / D Day]

Royal British Legion - Paris France 



The British Merchant Navy will be represented in Bayeux Cathedral and


Bayeux Cemetery, and other Ceremonies in Normandy, on 6th June 2019,


alongside the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF.

[KG]

UPDATED:

The British Merchant Navy will be represented in Bayeux Cathedral and Bayeux Cemetery, and other Ceremonies in Normandy, on 6th June 2019, alongside the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF. 150,000 seamen belonging to War fleets & Merchant Navy took part in the landing operations. 130,000 men, 20,000 vehicles were landed on the beaches on 6th June.

The Allied armada which crossed the Channel in the night of June 5th-6th comprised no fewer than 4,300 ships of all shapes and sizes (not counting the 2,600 barges carried by the large transport ships and lowered onto the waves close to the shore). It was made up mostly of British and American ships, though there were also Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, Danish, Greek and Free French vessels.

This vast fleet was placed under the command of the British Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay. It was subdivided into the Western Task Force under Rear-Admiral Kirk, who was in charge of landings in the American sector (Naval Forces “U” for Utah Beach and “O” for Omaha), and the Eastern Task Force under Rear-Admiral Vian, who was in charge of operations in the Anglo-Canadian sector (Naval Forces “G” for Gold Beach, “J” for Juno and “S” for Sword). Each force, composed of several hundred transport ships, auxiliary vessels and escort ships, was accompanied by a naval bombardment squadron of between fifteen and twenty warships (battleships, cruisers and destroyers).

Royal British Legion - Paris France

[Administrator]

D Day 75th Year Commemoration

Barry Cenotaph

13:40 Sunday 9th June.

[Administrator]

D-Day 75 ceremony at Bayeux War Cemetery

07 June 2019

Yesterday, a commemorative ceremony was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Bayeux War Ceremony, paying tribute to the soldiers that fought and died during the invasion of Normandy and the subsequent advance into France.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

This week saw the eyes of the world focusing on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Bayeux War Cemetery as the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Normandy Landings was marked in a poignant service attended by over 300 Normandy veterans.
Relive the day of events by following the link below.

LINK

[Administrator]

Many seafarers work at sea for many months at a time in uniquely dangerous environments to protect our shores, catch our fish and bring 95% of UK's imports. This #SupportingSeafarersDay give your thanks to seafarers who keep our 'island nation' afloat:

Seafarers UK



Supporting Seafarers Day
June 25, 2019


LINK