The following article is taken from the latest issue of the Globe & Laurel magazine.
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In June this year, seven ranks from 30 Cdo IX Gp RM visited Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Part of a wider group including 47 Cdo RG RM, SFSG and the RMA, the week we spent in France was an incredible experience.
After an early start at Stonehouse Barracks and a ferry ride to Normandy, we arrived at Port-en-Bessin on Monday 3 June. Our camp was located at a local football pitch and following a few hours of hard work, a mini tent city was established which would eventually accommodate serving ranks, civil servants, veterans and civilians.
We quickly realised that our collective of 200 personnel was just a tiny part in a massive commemorative effort. Normandy was packed with serving military personnel, politicians, journalists, veterans, civilians and re-enactors. Streets were lined with bunting, Allied flags hung in the windows of houses and shops, the roads were full of Second World War vehicles and aircraft, both modern and historic, flew over our heads.
On Tuesday 4 June, the seven of us from 30 Cdo visited Utah Beach. Though primarily an American zone, three Troops from 30 Assault Unit (30 Cdo’s predecessor) landed there in the first few days of the invasion and suffered 21 casualties from a German air attack. Following this, we went to La Cambe German Cemetery; a sobering experience highlighting the often-overlooked Axis losses. Many of the 21,200 interred in this cemetery share graves, represented by small stone plaques laying on the ground.
In the afternoon we visited the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. RSM 30 Cdo had organised a tour led by a former USMC Officer called John, who was working for the American Battle Monuments Commission. He led us through the barriers and around the cemetery itself, telling the story of the Roosevelt brothers, showing us the graves of the Niland brothers, the story that inspired ‘Saving Private Ryan’, and highlighting the work that goes into maintaining such an impressive site.
The following day we took part in a ceremony at Colleville-Montgomery, Sword Beach. Dressed in Lovats we marched from the statue of Bill Millin, Lord Lovat’s piper, to another statue, that of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, the man after whom the town was renamed. A moving service was led by 30 Cdo’s Chaplain, this included members of the Royal Signals, veterans from the Normandy Campaign and local French dignitaries. In the evening we embarked a LCU in preparation for the main event, an amphibious landing at Asnelles, Gold Beach.
After a night packed together on the LCU, we woke early on 6 June. During our approach to Asnelles we were flanked by a pod of dolphins; a far more peaceful scene than 80 years before. At 0900 hrs we began heading towards the town, our vision blocked by the ramp. 100m from the shore the ramp lowered, revealing a mass of people lining the beach. As the craft began its final approach, we could hear the tune of ‘Highland Laddie’ being played on the beach, the same song piped by Bill Millin 80 years ago. 50m from the shore the LCU stopped, followed by the call ‘out troops’. CO 47 Cdo and RSM 30 Cdo led us ashore in two files, slowly guiding the procession out of the water, past the applauding crowds and into another memorial service. An overwhelming experience and an honour for all involved.
After wading ashore, we then yomped 12 miles to Port-en-Bessin, replicating the march conducted by 47 RM Cdo 80 years ago. A walk made up of a few hundred people, this saw civilians, veterans and serving personnel come together and follow …………
To find out more about 30 Cdo IX Gp RM and further RM activities across the globe, catch up regularly with all the news in the Globe & Laurel Magazine, the Journal of the Royal Marines.
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Globe & Laurel – RMA – The Royal Marines Charity (rma-trmc.org)
