Omaha Beach - Débarquement de Normandie

On 6th June 1944, American, British (and Commonwealth) and Canadian (and French) troops landed on the coast of Normandy in what is now the best known D-Day landings.

For the sea invasions (there were also air strikes and parachute drops), the coast was split into 5 sections: Omaha, Sword, Juno, Gold and Utah. British troops landed on the Gold and Sword Beaches, Canadian troops landed on Juno, and the American troops landed on Utah and Omaha.

I went to visit Omaha beach, which is near to the village of Colleville-sur-Mer. This is the largest of the 5 landing beaches, and was also the setting for the bloody, but realistic, beginning scenes in the film 'Saving Private Ryan'.

The beach is beautiful. We arrived as the sun was setting and it was very serene and peaceful. Had we not been trying to get to the American Military Museum before it closed (and had we had better shoes) we may have walked along it, but instead we stood on the sand-dunes and looked across the beach and out to see.

It is very sad to think about the tragic events of 6th June 1944. We were able to liberate this area of France and then liberate Cherbourg, and then Paris, because of the brave acts of these men, which ultimately was a big part of the French liberation and the winning of the war. For this, so many soldiers sacrificed their lives, and I think it is important to learn about these fateful events and to remember what their sacrifice has done for the freedom and future of France, Great Britain and many other countries.

Also near to Colleville-sur-Mer, is the Omaha Beach Museum. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to visit this either, but perhaps we will when we go to visit the American Military Cemetery, which is also situated near to Colleville-sur-Mer.

All of these sites should definitely be visited at some point. I think it is really important to appreciate the history and to remember the men who died during the war so that they are Never Forgotten.

Cimetière Militaire Britannique de Bayeux

Bayeux War Cemetery Centrepiece

We arrived at the British Military Cemetery (also known as the Bayeux War Cemetery) at about 4pm (only 2 hours later than planned!). I think it may have been much nicer to go at this time though as the sun was starting to set, and there were less people around.

Opposite the Cemetery, there is a big memorial monument, called the 'Bayeux Memorial' which has the names of over 1,800 Commonwealth soldiers who have no known graves written on it, and the words "We, once conquered by William, have now set free the Conqueror’s native land." in Latin.

View of part of the cemetery from the gates

I was a little worried that the Cemetery would have a closing time and that we wouldn't be able to get in (like the American and German cemeteries do) but this cemetery can be accessed at any time which I think is much better.

In this Cemetery there are not only the graves of the Commonwealth soldiers, but also over 450 Nazi German graves, 25 Polish, 7 Russian, 3 French, 2 Czech and 2 Italian graves. Wikipedia tells me that there are 18 Commonwealth Cemeteries in Normandy containing 22,000 casualties of World War II, but than Bayeux is the largest.

Bayeux Memorial

It was a very calm place. Other than another couple, who almost left because they thought they couldn't get in through the gates, we were the only ones there.

It was very moving, particularly as on most graves, the age of the soldier is put on there, and on many there is a message from the family too, which is very sad as many of them are from parents and wives.

It was also especially nice to see the poppies everywhere that had been placed, especially on the large stone monument in the middle of the cemetery (apparently this is called a Centrepiece) and on the other stone monument called 'The Cross of Sacrifice'.

"A Soldier of the War
Known Unto God"

Some of the graves are unmarked and just say 'A Soldier in the War - Known unto God'. It's very sad, but at least all those who have no known grave have their names inscribed on the Bayeux Memorial.

There are also two stone buildings facing each other with the centrepiece monument in between. One gives information about the War and the soldiers who died, the other has a iron cupboard in the wall which houses a Visitors book and the grave record books in alphabetical order.

Cupboard in the stone building that
holds records and visitors book

We didn't spend very long there, perhaps 20-30 minutes, but it was very moving.

The Records book: All soldiers are listed in Alphabetical order,
with their rank and regiment, and family connections
where known, and then a grave reference

"The Cross of Sacrifice"
- Bayeux War Cemetery

View from the gates

The grave of a Sailor in the War, Unnamed.

Memorial for the soldiers who gave their lives for the liberation of Bayeux

Poppy wreaths left at the Cemetery