Page 203 - Bugle Autumn 2014

help from Rifles officers and Riflemen
of 4 RIFLES and others. First the RBL Service and Remembrance to mark the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Bayeux Cathedral at 0915 hrs followed by
a brief shock and then a welcome surprise when some Dutch re-enactors with their American Jeeps etc lifted the Veterans from their wheelchairs and after securing them in their vehicles took them along the beach as
4 Rifles post with DLI Association in the shade
of the 6th and 9th DLI the party arrived in Lingeveres, one of the most bloody of battles where they joined with the 4/7th DG’s for a joint service that included the reading of the Roll of Honour to the 36
the RBL and NVA Service in the CWGC, Bayeux Cemetery at 1115 hrs, attended by HM The Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
After the Bayeux Commemorative Service the thousands of Veterans from all over
the globe were put in packets to move to Sword Beach for another Service to start at 1530 hrs, it was at this point and to much surprise of the French Police and authorities that the DLI coach pulled out of line and headed for Gold Beach. This is where their Battlefield Tour now started.
After consuming a packed lunch and walking on what had been “Gold Beach”
in 1944, sons and daughters of the DLI almost (some did) wept when they walked where their fathers had walked, slipped and scrambled up that very same part of the beach to get in land 70 years ago. It was
far as Arromanches to see the remains of the once famous “Mulberry Harbour” and where later that day their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be guests of honour of the Surrey Branch of the NVA. Once returned
to the Durham party and after many photographs and the swapping of email addresses, the party set off inland following the fighting route of 151 Bde. Another late arrival back at the hotel.
The 7th was another fairly early start
but the day was dedicated to DLI services and dedications to those who lost their lives in June 1944. After following the route
members of 6 DLI and 41 of 9 DLI who were killed during the battle for Lingevres. This was followed by another service to the left side of the church to unveil and dedicate a memorial to The Durham Light Infantry provided by and
organised by The Durham and Darlington Fire Brigade. This had started earlier in
the year when one of the veterans Dick Atkinson and the Fire Brigade managed to have a piece of Durham Granite with marble plaque commissioned and blessed by the new (one week in post) Bishop of Durham to bless the stone before it left Durham for its final destination in Lingeveres.
sons and daughters of the DLI almost (some did) wept when they walked where their fathers had walked
DLI veterans, Durham Fire Service join the children of Lingeveres at the dedication service
THE RIFLES
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