How embarrassing? Now Mr Obama is trying to wangle an invite for the Queen. BBC NEWS | UK | Obama wants Queen at D-Day event I hope Johnny No Mates (aka Mr Brown) with his pompous arrogance or whoever else is responsible is feeling suitably ashamed.
Too little too late. It has to be one of the most embarressing episodes in recent years - we have become a laughing stock.
I am not laughing, I am crying. It is a tragedy and a disgrace that this momentous occasion has been politicised. I am glad that Australia's very small contribution has not been mentioned as it would tarnish the memory of those that died and those that participated. Heads would normally roll in government departments for this type of error however they have their heads so far up their **** it would be a pointless exercise. Let the veterans have their day.
Well, as an American, I have to say that the whole "Franco-American" thing is utter nonsense and really quite embarrassing if you want to know the truth..I am not here to bash Obama but I really don't think too much of him..as of two weeks ago the man had no interest at all in the war...Now the little cheese eating Frenchies..well, let em rot next time they need help..This is a day of remembrance for the veterans that survived D-Day and should be celebrated as such..the British and Australians,,and Canadians..and the Americans...we need to remember the sacrifices that were made for freedom...
Thanks for taking the time to mention Oz. However there was No real Australian presence in Europe at this time.. IMHO certainly not enough to place Australia in the same sentence as Britain, Canada other Commonwealth nations and Americans when talking about D Day and all other European theatres of fighting. Some Pilots, Air Crew and Sailors attached to RN and RAF units and maybe the occasional a RAAF Sdn here and there, however that would be it.
Hi Cobber, I agree that the Aussies didn't have a large presence on D Day. However this is from the Aust War Memorial site. 'Australia, with the great bulk of its forces fighting Japan in the south-west Pacific, took a relatively small part in the operation, but the invasion force included up to about 3,000 Australians. About a dozen Australian soldiers were attached to British army formations, learning the ropes in preparation for amphibious operations in the Pacific later in the war. Some 500 Australian sailors served in dozens of Royal Navy warships, from battleships and corvettes down to motor torpedo boats and landing craft. Several Australians commanded flotillas of tank-landing ships, while others piloted landing craft carrying British and Canadian infantry onto the beaches. Australia’s main contribution was in the air. Between 2,000 and 2,500 Australian airmen served in dozens of RAF and ten RAAF squadrons of all kinds. Australian aircrew served in transport and glider-towing squadrons which carried airborne troops, fighter-bombers and fighters operating directly over the beach-head, and many in heavy bomber squadrons which dropped thousands of tons of bombs in support of the landings. Coastal Command squadrons operated far from the beaches of Normandy, protecting the Channel crossings from German naval forces. Fourteen Australians were killed on D-Day (two RAN and 12 RAAF).' So I'm sure the Veterans would take any recognition. Cheers GW
Maybe small in comparison in land forces however they were otherwise involved as was our naval shipping. Our RAAF forces were worth their weight in gold as were the other allied flyers and ground staff. Australians were to go on and have 1400 buried in Germany alone and 1400 listed on the Runnymede Memorial as having no known grave. There is no doubt that for the situation in the Pacific, the 6th, 7th & 9th Australian divisions would have had either a beach at Normandy or fighting their way through Italy. These divisions were amongst the most seasoned fighting troops the allies could have mustered at that time.
Thanks for the numbers Golden wattle, they seem about right to what I have previously see. However as we agree, the Australian numbers in comparison to other nations it is a quite small amount of personnel. Spidge As for what if their was no Pacific well then the USA would of had a Army of Marines to land on D Day and the Brits would of been able to bring their Armies from India etc into Europe also so much extra Naval & Air power. Also possibly with so many extra USA and British troops available at a earlier time the invasion may have happened earlier. As for the Aussies well IMHO by 1944 with out a Pacific war the Aussies would of purposely created a small Army, of Inft and Armour, they had 5+ Divs and 1 Armoured Div fighting in the jungles of the Pacific Where these supposed troops would of been used, i wouldn't know. I have also seen the quote about the 9th Div and D Day. However this is just fanatsy. Aussies had little to do with these great days of European & American History.
You make me laugh Jerome !! :mosking: Are you watching it on TV then ? .... I guess we have to wait for reruns later ! I'll look for that - unless they edit it !!
Spidge I am most certainly not belittling the Australian effort in any part of WW2. I would be belittling my own family's efforts as well. I also if you bother to read my post concentrated on Air warriors and sailors.
Thate ist digracful! What briton had done fore Europe and france!Shame on French! America did not give a darne about French being over taken by Nazi germany ande yet they honor America! I wished Briton just let france and europe fall to nazi germany and briton just looke after herself. I am getting hatful against nationalites that don;t respect other nationalites that saved them from hitler! Disgracful i say!
I couldn't believe that either when i heard it ,it just gave me the answer i was waiting for that the saying ME MYSELF AND I apply very well to this French governement. They wanted a show with Obama and they couldn't share the limelight with the British and Canadian and all the others . Always will remember a day when i was visiting a friend 's family in Caen ( not a friend anymore ) that the mother stated that they ( american & canadian) could have put their nose earlier in the war and not coming at the last minute and say they save us. i lost it on her like there were no tomorrow and told her when i left to be thankfull that they puted their nose in it to save selfish people like her . I am still mad at this today lollllllll and it was in 1994 . Frenchy
Well what the media reports and what happens are often different! I was in Normandy from last Thursday thru to yesterday morning. We took 2 gun tractors with limbers and 25pdrs along with various support vehicles. From Oiusterham port to Ver Sur Mer (where we camped) the locals were out waving at us and cheering us on. We had open public days for our displays on Saturday and Sunday, over 8000 people visited us on those days. The locals treated us like VIP's. We fired in Trungy on Monday where the Mayor had invited us to do so. Again they lined the streets and cheered the Brits in. The fed and watered us and did not want us to leave. We were elated and humbled at the same time. The Normandy people certainly appreciated the British being there and treated us as if we were the heroes of 65 years ago, a very humbling experience. I was on Gold beach at 6:30am on the 6th, again locals were there and wanted us to drink calvados with them. I can't put in to words how fantastic the experience was! When i get to sort thru my pictures I will get some posted.
Frenchy- I don;t have any bad feelings for you,i was upset,like how you were back in 1994. These days,alot of nationalties always think that America won the war,i say it was an Allie win. If Briton was not involved at the start of ww2,things would be differnt right now. I don;t know why,some French people, only think about America saving them! I have heard in todays world, that French and British don;t get along,maybe that;s why french did not want to honour Briton. On a general note,French people are great people. What penance wrote about the media,this may make the French sound bad,more so than they are,media can put at wrong information which penance as pointed out.
Heidi i agree with you it's not everybody in France but somebody in that governement did not do his or her job by not inviting the Queen for the 65 anniversary that make everybody look bad in that situation . Frenchy
