80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

Grandad Dennis in 1943

I know it's only been 8 years since my last post here (OUCH!!) but I felt this was an important one to share

6th June 1944 D-Day Landings, 80 years ago

My grandfather, Dennis Sutcliffe, at the age of 18 very early in the morning was on one of the first landing craft to land on Gold Beach with the Green Howard's. It was a day he rarely spoke of and clearly brought with it painful memories, as well as the physical pain of the injuries he sustained on that day. I do remember at the 60th Anniversary celebrations asking him some questions but I wish I had recorded what he had said to me!

It was his first experience of war, but he had been in training for a number of months specifically for this operation. He was a lucky survivor as 180 Green Howards lost their lives on this day.

I am hoping to visit Gold Beach later in the summer with my children to see where my grandfather landed, as well as to visit The Green Howards Memorial in Crepon.

Memorial to my grandfather on D-Day 70 years on

My grandfather 

My grandfather was only 18 years old when he joined the Green Howards during WW2. His first experience of combat (other than training) was 70 years ago today on D-Day.

I cannot even begin to imagine how he was feeling on that day as a young man, only just entering into his adult years with his whole life ahead of him, running into fierce battles to give us the freedom which we live under today. There must have been great fear and trepidation, as well as bad memories of the whole experience.

It was not an occasion that grandad would reminisce about, if we asked him he would answer some of the questions and tell us a little about the experience, but I would love to have been able to ask him today some more about his experiences as well as his thoughts and feelings at the time. As a child I never properly understood but wish I could now.

My grandfather was wounded in the shoulder during the D-Day landings and returned to the UK to recuperate, before being posted to Africa for the remainder of the war.

He was a part of the Green Howards who landed at Gold Beach on the 6th June 1944.

I wish I knew more to share, but I don't and can no longer ask him, but today I have been remembering all those young men who fought on the beaches of France for the future generations.

Lives of the First World War - Who Are You Remembering?

With the centenary of World War I beginning this year, a new website called Lives of the First World War has been set up by D.C. Thomson Family History Ltd in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum to remember those who served in World War I.

The website is designed so that people can personally add their own stories, facts and images to the service men who are already listed on the site, so that they can be remembered.

Alongside this new website and my £1 month subscription to FindMyPast.co.uk as well as my regular subscription to Ancestry.co.uk it has encouraged me to research my ancestors who fought in the First World War and discover their stories.

My great grandfathers who I am remembering are:

• Private Harold Vernon Poole - West Yorkshire Regiment #24181
• Private George Henry Presswood - South Staffordshire Regiment #45098
• Private Wilfred Sutcliffe - West Yorkshire Regiment #23963

I am going to write a blog post about each of them over the next few months...

The website seems a great way for people to share and remember their ancestors but I have been slightly frustrated with the website for if you do not have an up to date web browser you cannot upload images to the site!!! I eventually had to downloaded the new Google Chrome just to upload the images I wanted to.

BUT, who are you remembering?