The D-Day invasion, which we shall commemorate with gratitude and pride on June 6, was one of the greatest acts of bravery and resolve in the chronicles of human civilisation. On that day in 1944, the democratic allies ensured, through courage and endurance, that much of post-Hitler Europe would be free. Those involved in Operation Overlord paid a very high price, so that hundreds of millions could grow up in a cleaner, better world.
Seaborne invasion is one of the most perilous and costly forms of warfare. Few of those who stormed ashore now survive. All too many of them, in thousands of cases astonishingly young, lie forever in heartbreaking cemeteries dotted along the Normandy coast. They never saw the better world they helped to make.
This was perhaps the last and greatest expression of British and Commonwealth military power. Of the 156,000 men who landed on that day in the face of Nazi machine guns, more than 83,000 were British or Canadian (Canada supplied more than 21,000, the USA 73,000.) The Royal Navy and its Commonwealth cousins provided 1,000 vessels of war, probably the greatest fleet in the history of the world. That is why it is still very much in our minds, and will be for as long as we have the wisdom to remember, respect and learn from the valour of our forebears.
The British Army’s memorial parachute display will be so much smaller than originally planned. Pictured, a Fly Past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for the Commemoration of Battle of the Atlantic held at St Nicholas Church
Some speculate that this event is connected with French resentment at Britain’s departure from the European Union. The British Normandy Memorial
Of the 156,000 men who landed on that day in the face of Nazi machine guns, more than 83,000 were British or Canadian. Pictured, Troops from the 48th Royal Marines at Saint-Aubin-sur-mer on Juno Beach, Normandy, France during the landings
So what a pity it is that, as The Mail on Sunday reports today, the British Army’s memorial parachute display will be so much smaller than originally planned. This, like so many other aspects of our Armed Forces, is the consequence of bipartisan cuts in strength which were allowed to continue for far too long and which are only now being put right. As it happens, few who watch will notice at the time, as any parachute display is moving and impressive – and who will want, under the circumstances, to detract from the event?
But our own soldiers, and our enemies, will be acutely conscious of the lack. The proper response to this must be a serious long-term commitment to procuring the necessary aircraft and bringing them into service, and into training our airborne forces, a costly commitment but one we cannot manage without.
Meanwhile, may we also have a quiet word with our French friends and allies, about the absence of British flags from the commemorative bunting in one Normandy town, Carentan. Oddly, whoever is responsible for omitting the Union Flag managed to include the banners of neutral nations such as Sweden, Ireland and Switzerland.
Some speculate that this event is connected with French resentment at Britain’s departure from the European Union. Well, Britain was not in the EU in 1914, when we came to France’s aid against a German invasion, nor in 1940, when we did the same thing, nor in 1944, when so many of our soldiers died in the fields and hedgerows of Normandy to help recover France’s freedom and independence.
Our relationship has always been awkward and probably always will be. We are bound to be rivals. But we have fought together too often to let pettiness get in the way.