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Search forVeterans greeted by thanks and tears
Friday, September 05, 2008, 07:00
The Normandy Veterans' Association members are embarking on probably their last visit to the beaches they stormed 64 years ago during the biggest invasion in human history.
Dressed in their blazers and medals, they were constantly stopped wherever they were, with people keen to shake their hands, say thank you, hear their stories and even sob with emotion.
They visited Utah and Omaha beaches, as well as the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, and the reception they received took even them by surprise.
Cyril Perry, 83, from Paignton, was 18 when he was involved in D-Day with the Royal Army Service Corps.
He was approached by people unable to hold back their tears when hearing his recollections of the Normandy landings.
Cyril said: "At Pegasus Bridge a woman came over and kissed me on the cheek three times. She was from Holland and thanked me for the liberation. She was upset and it upset me.
"Another woman, from Texas, told me her father was at Pearl Harbor. She asked if I was scared at Normandy, and she became emotional — very emotional.
"She asked if my friends were alive and I said I was going to visit some cemeteries, and she got upset again.
"These responses mean something to us, obviously, and I'm very proud of what we achieved, but it sounds wrong to say you're proud when so many people died.
"It is very emotional. Being here, the emotions have been overwhelming sometimes. I can't remember people crying before. They've been sobbing.
"We left a lot of friends behind in 1944 and that's why it's so emotional for us, but I think the emotions are different for people coming up to us.
"Everyone has their different reasons. Could we have done anything different during the war? I don't think so."
Moira Russell, whose father, Alan 'Blodwin' Davies, was a torpedo operator aboard HMS Rodney, was amazed to overhear a conversation about Ray Daniel, from Torquay, who was aboard the same ship during the Normandy landings.
She said: "I couldn't have asked for anything better than the opportunity of meeting and talking to Ray.
"I studied the Second World War for my degree, so it means a lot to me to talk to Ray — better than going to all the museums.
"Talking to Ray has brought a lot of my personal history alive. It's been great and very humbling to meet these gentlemen."
Ray said: "There were about 1,600 of us aboard HMS Rodney, so I didn't know Moira's father but it was amazing to meet her.
"It's brought tears to my eyes. It just shows, you never know who you're going to meet. Moira has taken my address so we're going to keep in touch.
"I'm so grateful for the people who are so interested in our experiences. It means a lot to all of us."
Ray was among a number of South Devon veterans asked to sign a restaurant bar in Utah, where many war heroes have written their signatures.
The group then went to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, an immaculately kept area dedicated to thousands of Americans who lost their life at Normandy.
Frank O'Donnell was with friends from Dublin when he saw the South Devon veterans and he was determined to shake their hands.
He said: "These men are fantastic. It's great to see them here. What they did is incredible and listening to them brings it all alive for you."
His friend Michael O'Mahoney added: "I had two cousins who were killed in the war, so this visit has added significance for me, and it's wonderful to meet the veterans and hear their stories.
"They showed real heroism 64 years ago. I'm honoured to shake their hands."
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