Wednesday 15 March 2006

Sword Beach - Le Grand Bunker


Sword Beach from the Bunker Roof

Having traveled to Normandy to visit the D-Day beaches we arrived at Ouistreham, where, tucked away in the backstreets we found this museum. It has been fully restored to how it would have looked back in 1944. The amount of original uniforms and equipment, some very rare, is amazing.

Three wise men.  John, Phil & Dave atop the Bunker
Situated inside a Fire Control Bunker, which overlooked Sword Beach, this museum tells the story behind the Atlantic Wall defences along the Normandy coastline. The bunker was also the command center for all the gun batteries protecting the Orne estuary. As 3rd Division landed on Sword Beach, and the guns the bunker commanded were silenced, the garrison held out until 9th June, when a Royal Engineers officer, Lieutenant Bob Orrell of 91st Field Company, blew the entrance in and the occupants finally surrendered. Orrell and his men took two officers and 50 men prisoner, and for his exploits Orrell was awarded the Military Cross.
Graham explaining to John the hatch for the step ladder
 to the roof wasn't too small, rather John was too big.
Phil watches on.



On tour with the SAS - more<here>.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.