Back on the beaches of Normandy
The old men are assembled there
On walking sticks or Zimmer frames
Some confined to their wheelchair,
This diminishing band of heroes,
Survivors from eighty years before
Who by ship, parachute and glider
Were transported to the horror of war.
Now sitting with a quiet dignity to
Remember the beginning of the end
The blood, pain, swear and tears
The loss of comrade and friend.
For many maybe the last chance
To visit those beaches again
This slowly dwindling band
Of valiant and proud old men.
They are there to receive tribute
For the sacrifice so many made,
To appear before a grateful world
On this their maybe last Parade.
Many years ago a promise spoken
Which has been faithfully met
For your suffering and sacrifice
We pledge again we’ll not forget.
6th June 1944 nearly 160 thousand allied troops landed on the beaches at Normandy to start the beginning of the end of WW2 in Europe. The largest Naval invasion in history.
In addition more landed by glider and parachute.
D-Day had begun.
If old men fought the wars
Would there be quite so many?
Maybe we’d reach a stage
Where we’d not fight any.
Life becomes more precious
With the passing of years
The realisation of mortality
Bringing its own fears.
Let the young live their lives,
No longer treated like cattle
Marshalled and forced to
Fight the old mens’ battles.
Let the old men go
To fight their own wars
Don’t conscript the future to
Go die for another’s cause.
If old men did the fighting
Perhaps there’d be more trying
To find a different solution if
Old men faced the risk of dying.
(D-Day 6th June 1944)
I’m just an old man in a blazer
Here to try and tell the truth
About that longest longest day
That brought an end to my youth.
No heroic thoughts as
I struggled up the sand
Into the chaos of that
Foreign and alien land,
Just a sense of confusion,
Panic, mind numbing fear,
A sense of bewilderment
wondering why am I here.
Somehow it ended,
I managed to survive
One of the lucky ones
Who left that beach alive.
For years the sleepless nights
The sense of horror in my head
Guilt At still being here when
So many friends were dead.
So, many years later and I have
Treasured every single day
Loved every minute of a life that so
Easily could have been taken away.
Just an old man in a blazer
Here to try and tell the truth
About that cruel longest day that
Brought an end to my youth.
Seventy Three years ago today,
The war in Europe turned our way.
Through the waves, they came in waves
Through the waves, young strong Braves.
Across the beaches, under some withering fire,
They were unstoppable, their mission was dire.
Taking back from the enemy, the land,
Taken by soldiers of the Fatherland.
Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword,
The beaches where the Allies, of one accord,
Taken while the enemy were caught off guard.
They had fell for the ruse of another backyard.
British, American, Canadian and many more,
Surprised the enemy when they came ashore.
The battles raged, many died but none in vain,
They stopped an Evil from winning once again.
Lest we should ever forget.
© Dave Timperley 6th of June 2017
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