Visit the D-day beaches with a private guide. Colin McGarry Normandy Tour guide. Each video will be on a site of the D-day invasion or the battle of Normandy. Some of the projected visits: Omaha beach, Pointe du Hoc, Pegasus bridge, Sword beach, Gold beach, Juno beach, Utah beach the British airborne, American airborne, Operation Totalise, La Fiere bridge, Waverly Wray etc...
Such a terrific presentation! Appreciated all your research in order to provide in-depth information around a subject most people would have vague knowledge or understanding of and then only if they knew about WWII. Sadly, the history of WWII is being lost to younger generations. Thank you for your efforts to keep this history alive and providing its importance to modern relevance .
I wonder why the British never did take down those towers at the steel works and the cement factory? That would take it away much of the observation power of the Germans.
My great-uncle was in the US army, 30th infantry division. in his journal, he mentioned being told to let the tanks pass. He was subsequently captured with the other men in his foxhole and spent the rest of the war as a POW, held in Stalag VIIA. The more I learn about his division, the prouder I am of his service and sacrifice for the world's greater good. He was a farm boy from rural Ohio, Louis Greene, Jr.
Thank you for posting these, I watch them with great interest. My late uncle William McKillop was a wireless/gunner CDN 4th armoured Governor Generals Foot Guard. He would occasionally share snippets of his experience at Falaise but seldom as it seemed to cause him anxiety. 😔
As discovered by Norm Christie in his excellent analysis at ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xP5ndJ1IpiY.htmlsi=1V1GUd3C-CnjoxQg, Wittmann was most likely killed by the Sherbrooke Fusiliers.
all this kit wandering about Normandy and at their camps adds so much, thanks to all that are a part of it. Thanks Colin missed this bit was already on my way home on the 8th.
We went there 4 weeks ago. It touched me far more than I expected. So emotional when you realize that these giants paid the ultimate price for our freedom. The shadows of these silhouets with their heads all bowed down to the ground enhance the emotional experience. Certainly worth the visit. The memorial is located at Val sur Mer, not far from Arromanche and will be only there until September this year.
Watching your videos is almost like being part of one of your tour groups. It is amazing how the countryside has recovered after the very destructive war
You should do the story of the dedication of the engineer monument in 1945. Especially about the young girls who had the dresses made up of red white and blue parachute material in fact one of them still lives in that area and the bar is still there and open.
Out of curiosity. When I saw Michael Whitman's grave back in the mid-90s he had a very ornate tombstone with an engraving of him sitting up on the top of a tank whatever happened to that monument?
@@kerrydennison7947 are you sure that was at la Cambe cemetery. I’ve been guiding since 1982 and I never saw anything like that. I don’t see it being allowed. All graves have the slabs of the same false stone with the name, rank and birth and death dates.
the death of Herbert Denham “Den” Brotheridge, considered the first allied officer to have been killed in the ground fighting on D-Day. The theory of a fratricidal fire is supported by the author on the basis of the testimonies collected during his various interviews. Von Keusgen furthermore considers that the accidental death of “Den”, deputy officer and friend of Major Howard commanding English troops, would have been a well-kept secret by British veterans
People tend to forget one thing about this battle it was the US first and second infantry divisions that opened up this hole in the line but then general Montgomery intervened and wanted to use his own troops.. but Montgomery did not take the opportunity to find out that the Americans had already had plans to exploit this hole in the German lines. Same as doing the Battle of the bulge when general Montgomery intervened and pulled out the US 82nd airborne division which led to most of the personnel of Piper's armor unit being able to escape..... In Montgomery always uses the excuse that he wanted to draw all of the heavy SS armored divisions against the British and Canadian armor on the Eastern flank... Then how does he explained the US 30th infantry division standing up against the SS armored divisions later on in the battle for Normandy without the intervention of the British ground forces? Even later on in this great series that you have on the Battle of Normandy you tell the story of the lieutenant on top of the high hills with only his radio in contact with the US corps artillery that defeated the SS armored divisions. Many people tend to forget that general Montgomery came from the Yonkers land owner class of British society n he had absolutely no problem in sacrificing colonial troops to get his own way... Have you ever really wondered why Australia pulled out their ground forces from under Montgomery's command??? And why the free French armored units would not fight under Montgomery's command inside of France? General Sir Harold Alexander would have been a much better choice to command the land forces in northern Europe.
Why do you not do a story about the little girls with the American flag dresses when they dedicated the engineer monument? From what I understand one of them is still alive and her father still has that bar where the dress is displayed at along with a lot of memorabilia would make a great video.
Was there ever an official investigation conducted by Montgomery's headquarters to find out exactly who was responsible and to take corrective action? I know the senior engineering officer of the 58 highland division was relieved from command when it was determined that he did not have the minefield mapped and held up the advancement for the conquest of cann. There was American generals and other field-grade officers relieved from command and sent back home for a whole lot less.
THANK YOU for these beautiful pictures i was born in bayeux 'hopital clemenceau) near jerusalem, i lived in conde sur seulles that s why i love great britain my grandparents had english people on their fields from june 1944 to february 1945 'i kept the papers why ?i don t know in the farm there were some "grafittis on the walls" and bullet holes all is true tks
Thank you for that history lesson and insight into this great man, served in the Green Howards in 1978 and also had the pleasure of serving with CSM Hollis’s grandson also names Stan, a great guy and a good laugh.
It is not true that all of the resistance newspapers were allowed to come out in the open after liberation. Remember general degaulle suppress almost all of the Communist resistance movements so he could seize control of the government. And even got to the point that he went to the ussr to visit with premier Joseph Stalin, mainly because of all of the promises that were made to communist resistant leaders that they would have a share in the government after liberation was not followed up on and he was afraid that the Russians were going to rearm the resistance and start a civil war within France. Same as that happened in Greece after liberation.
The revised location of Burgetts fighting outside St Come Du Mont also fits when you refer to his account of holding the left flank of the hedgerow and shot a German solider near an old building and pile of bricks. There are several buildings along the west side of the road there that could have been what he was referring to. I also recall he mentioned enemy mortar and artillery positions on the left flank, perhaps in the approximate location of the industrial station opposite the museum, or further north.
I have recently returned from the 80th Anniversary in Normandy and had the fortune to visit the museum at Dead Man's Corner. This video is the perfect accompaniment to my visit there and provides an excellent perspective of the actions that took place in June 1944. Keep up the good work creating these videos.
I'm surprised u got in considering the queue was about 3 miles long. Thankfully i went there 2 years ago and saw it all without the masses of people log jamming at the entrance. Great museum but fails to highlight the immense fighting that took place just a hundred yards from it.
That German truck you mention at 1:53 is actually a French made Laffey. The huge armored truck you mention at 9:15 is a Dragon Wagon and it is usually seen during the war recovering Sherman tanks that were damaged in battle. In Belton Cooper's book Death Traps, he speaks of an over eager commander of a Dragon Wagon going out to collect a Sherman in the middle of a battle which the Germans saw as well, and they began shooing an artillery barrage that destroyed the Dragon Wagon, the Sherman it was trying to collect, and every thing else around the area. By the way, you accidentally called a Bren Gun carrier a Weasel, and the Panzer two is actually called a Lynx.
Thank you for giving coverage to Waverly Wray, he was from Batesville, Mississippi and there is a highway named after him. I am also from Mississippi. Wray did many amazing things including capturing a German brigade, and in Nordike's book on the 82nd, his men called him the Alvin York of WW2. While he did so much, he was never awarded the Medal of Honor, and over the years there have been attempts to right that wrong. The commanding officer said there would only be one Medal of Honor giving for actions on and around D-Day.
I was there 4th to 6th it was a great few days, did'nt visit any museums just lapped up the fantastic atmosphere the reenactors and their vehicles make it such a show of living history. it was a bit crazy at times battling through the traffic even though we were on motorbikes but everyone seemed just happy to be there even the Gendam's were waving back and prompting us to tag on the back of their groups, many of them likely not local as they were taking snaps as we were in some well known locations. Its a strange mixture of commeration of the fallen and joy of the begining of liberation but works really well, was there in 2004, and 14, would love to think I will be on my bike in 34 too. Thanks to all the People who made it what it was last week especially those with itchy uniforms and gas guzzling machines. Special thanks to those that will always be there, and those that went to visit them who made it all happen 80 years ago. Thanks for the vid some was familiar.
Just when I took that shot of the c130s going over POinte du Hoc, I saw a gendarme motorcyclist sitting on someones collection bike. I moved to film it but he got off before i got near enough. There were a thousand police and Gendarme motards, from all over France.
I am attempting to learn more about what is referred to as Hill 91 near the battle that broke out near the town of Ariel France. My father's best buddy was assigned with four other forward observers that came across the Germans and their pants are tanks that were grouping near the bridge. Any information you may have about these men killed by friendly fire when they requested artillery support would be appreciated. I believe they were under the command of general Hobbs.
Hill 91 wasn't really near Airel. it was 2 miles West of Pont hebert, where the road crosses the new highway. A group of tanks was heading to hill 91. They were to turn left at a certain place but the lead tank turned right and the others followed. The second in the lead tank thought they were going the wrong way, but he'd just arrived in the unit and didn't dare contradict his officer. They were now approaching American guns. The officer they were approaching saw tanks through the mist. He even asked over trhe radio if there were American tanks in the area and was told No. They all started firing at each other. This lasted for half an hour. I mention this at 30m mark.
I would like for you to start doing more stories similar to this one human interest stories of the French people and how they stood up to the German terror. I purchase the book that you recommended in another video the secrets of D-Day very enlightening book.❤
Thank you, Colin for the informative tours you gave us with the Beaches of Normandy Tour group. Your knowledge and expertise added so much to our trip thank you thank you.
My late dad was in Tully srved 4/7 Dragoon guards A sin ended up in battle of lingeuvres where the dragoon guards knocked out 5 panther tanks Dads regiment where with Durham light infantry
Stood at PenB, facing seaward, the hill to your right:- there's an earlier era fort converted to a firing position by Jerry. Visiting in early 80's a climb upnto'gave' x3 German mg casings, fired but for sure as later proven, also 'a piece' that has apparently well rusted to main mini barrel iron sights and a slotting mech below which I assume was part of a gun of sorts. They were all just there below mud, gravel etc in and around said position.
