Sword Beach to Bremen., A Veterans tale. Sapper

D Day! Spare a moment to remember.
Tomorrow is the 59th Anniversary of D Day. Spare a moment to remember those lovely young men from all the allies that never lived to enjoyed the full life that we enjoyed, and never knew the pleasure of a family of their own.

The Freedom Bell.
Across the years, our memories saved.
Of fine young men, who's lives they gave.
No song of lark, there, in darkened sky.
In front of Caen, we all came to die.
In high golden corn, our wounded fell.
Then burned to death, for Freedoms Bell.

Pegasus Bridge, came under fierce attack.
Our friends are dead, No! don't look back.
Listen? Is that the English Bells we hear?
From across the sea, to drown our fear?
For Mother Earth claims those that fall.
With soft Norman earth, to cover all.

On darkened, late, Mid-Summers night.
In restless dreams, before dawns light.
Familiar faces gather, call my name.
Come! for Freedoms Bell, lets fight again!
Then into battle, with troubled dreams.
Watch men die, scream, curse, blaspheme.

For we, who are old, the guns still roar.
And long forgotten, young voices call.
Searching mortars, for humans seek.
To maim and kill, and wounding's wreak.
Hear the screams of men, in mortal pain?
Are those the Bells? That dread refrain?

We, still live the years of mighty deeds.
And grieve for our fallen, our wounded bleed.
Who will ring the Bell of Freedoms song?
When we are gone? When we are gone?

Rest in Peace.

 

Well said Sir, and glad to see you back here.

 

pretty fitting as we have been discussing British armor in Normandy a bit.......Sapper Brian, good to see U posting again !

~E

 

Thanks for that, Sapper Brian!

Today we will remember those who gave their lives 59 years ago this day. My prayers are with them.

Good to have you back here. I hope we get to enjoy your stories again!

 

Respect to all veterans on this the anniversary of D-Day.

Great to see you back here Brian, I missed you my friend!

 

Good to see you back, Sapper.

I am sure we were all thinking of the Allied soldiers who fought and died in Normandy 59 years ago; let us all ensure their memory never fades.

 

I would like also to add my thanks. To hear the words of just one veteran for a minute has much more effect than reading 100 books. Again I add my thanks.

 

i have just know read this post and sapper i have spent the last 2 hrs. cryin and laughin at ur account and experience in Europe. i am American and on behalf of my freedom and my country i would like to say thank you for your sacrifice. any man who took place in that hellish front is worthy of recognition and honor from any free man today. you are an inspiration to the generations and will be spoken of for many years to come. i have only recently joined this forum but i read this and was overwhelmed by your story. i may not know that much about WW2 but have been researching for approxiametly a year and am very passionate about my studies. thank you for your support in this operation. i am a man with no military background behind me but out of honor and respect, oh behalf of America I salute u for ur efforts. i would love to see the day when you write a book containing your experiences in it, as soon as that day comes, please let this forum know as to where i can get it. once again thank you for ur extreme sacrifice and bravery on behalf of my country

 

Thank you very much for that appreciation "Onthe field" that was kind of you.

I have not visited this site recently, a busy old fellow! The object of the pages I have submitted to this site had one purpose only.

That all those Allied forces that gave their lives, and were wounded, while taking part in restoring sanity to the World, and the removal of that murderous and evil Nazi regime from the enslaved peoples of Europe, will be remembered.

From the fields of Normandy I bring back many memories, beneath them, I leave many friends.
Feel free to have a chat any time.
Brian

 

Glad to see you back Sir, and I hope everything has been going well for you?

Best regards-Carl.

 

Hi Carl. Come to that, and everyone else. Hi to all the friends here! Yes, I have been a busy old fellow. giving a talk, writing and trying to walk! That has become a very difficult procedure lately, very difficult.

Tomorrow I was supposed to be at my wartime convalescent home, the old manor that was such a haven of peace and tranquillity, I was to be interviewed there for BBC Southern T/V, but they called it off for two weeks, the POP star that owns it, has a set up for a music programme so I am told.

Gave a lecture on the Normandy campaign to a local society in a theatre, got a standing ovation at the end…That always gives the ego a bit of a boost.

The Veterans are leaving at the rate of knots now, not really surprising when you consider that I am just short of 79…….. 19 at the time of D Day. So the main of the Veterans will be by now anything up to 90 years of age. I tend to forget that I am an old man, until I see that white haired, doddery old fellow, desperately trying to get along on his crutches, “thinking” look at that poor old biddy…Then to realize? its me in a shop window.
My very best wishes to you all. I like to drop in on occasions just to make sure you are all behaving yourselves.
Brian

 

Very glad to hear that you're still 'looking in', Sapper ! We 'youngsters' need you to keep us in touch with reality....

As my Dad ( ex-Royal Armoured Corps ) says : 'Nil carborundum !'

 

Good to see you Sapper Brian! It sounds like you keep yourself real busy! I hope I can get to listen to one of your talks one of these days! That would be grand!

The BBC interview, is that for the BBC SouthEast news? In that case I will be able to see it!

Hope to see you here again.

Greetings,

Stevin

 

I have just had a phone call telling me that the filmed interview has been called off for two weeks. IT was due to be seen on BBc "Southern" TV. the local programme.
Brian

 

Thanks for that Sapper Brian! I probably won't be able to see it. Anybody else here on the forums gets BBC South and will be able to tape this???

Thanks again, Sapper Brian, Hope to see you here again.

Stevin

 

The T/V interview has been re-arranged. I will let this site know when it is likely to be broadcast. though why in heavens name anyone should want to look at me, is quite beyond my imagination...
Cheers Brian

 

But Sapper Brian! We have been enjoying your stories and presence at these forums for quite a while now. I think it is great that you still go out and tell you story to the younger generations.

I would LOVE to see you on TV and see "who you are". Next best thing after meeting you in person or 'talking' to you through the forums or e-mail!

And it is a great opportunity to bring the cause of the war vets under the attention of a greater public!

Please keep us posted!

 

hey sapper ill side with stefan on this one. im probably considered one of the "youngins" in here being 17 but i appreciated so much everything that u tell and especially i think sharing your story is so important due to the fact that most of my generation is unfortuanetly not researching and learning about one of the most impactful times in history. thanks for everything sapper from my generation.

 

No need to find out what I look like...I will tell you...A white haired old man with severe war injuries to spine, legs, knees, and lungs. in fact a bit of a decrepit old badger. who has great difficulty in getting about. Nothing special about me, just a 78/79year tatty old man.

Mind you! a very proud old badger! And one that has tried to tell the story, "first hand" of a very traumatic time in our history. one of the greatest events the World has experienced.

The object? No more, no less, than to dedicate it to the lovely young men that never came home. That is the only reason... just that their names will be remembered.

You may not think it possible? but I can still see their faces...Not all of them, just the ones I was close to. Harry Grey. Wass Thomas. Jock Mathers. Sgt Rees. Corporal Ginger Ford. Digger Trench. so many others I can still clearly recall, Sadly, many of them died on the path from Sword Beach to Bremen.

But I would still love to know if the American that we captured in the German army, (Near Vire) ever got home? But there were so many men we met along the way.....So many.
Brian.

 

Sapper, I've always wondered...what on earth did you do to all the obstacles on the beach? just carefully move them to the side without the Germans noticing?