TOM, FROM THE MONTGÓ RELIVES D-DAY AGAIN 1€
The News/views Magazine ABOUT and FOR Jávea - you can hold in your hand
Nº 14 June/July 2014 Suggested
Tom Clark and his wife Lesley again made their annual pilgrimage to Normandy, from their Montgó home, to remember (or might it be to try and forget?) the events of 6th June 1944.
We make no apology for our picture, which indicates that Tom had feelings of ‘high’ and ‘low’ throughout the day the real strain was on Lesley. Going back to 1944, Tom was with 48 Royal Marine Commando, and at 24 years of age was a Troop Sergeant
If any explanation is still needed
We could have called this local magazine HAVVYER HEARD, but we thought Jávea Jeard would confirm our light-hearted attitude to the serious political and economic problems in Spain, and their effect on Jávea.
Major. They landed on the beach at St. Aubin sue Mer 7am - which they cleared - and worked their way back to the shore, clearing the way from Langrune sur Mer. Then it was time for Tom and his men to move ‘inland’ over the Pegasus Bridge. The day had begun badly, having sailed from Southampton with 99% of everyone on board vomitting into the sea during the rough trip. At one point the Navy who were responsible for the ‘Landing Craft Infantry Small’ lowered the steps and wished everyone the best. So keen were the ship’s crew to get out of danger, that they lowered the steps too soon and the men walked off the steps into water that was so deep they had to swim ashore. The swell of the sea was so strong that the steps of some Landing Craft were immedately swept away, preventing the ‘passengers’ from disembarking. Tom’s boat floated over the underwater sea defences,. and
he and his men were already under heavy fire from the enemy Whom we now have to call Nazis but they were called Germans if you were polite and Kraut if you were not. Tom’s men were like a row of sitting ducks to German snipers, so Tom rallied them to form a zigzag up the beach towards the higher ground. It is said (on the internet) that Tom destroyed an enemy pill-box by running at it as eratically as he could, jumping on top, then popping a grenade inside. Tom received his medal from Montgomery in the field in July and subsequently from the King at Buckingham Palace. It was ‘only’ the Military Medal, as Tom was ‘only’ a sergeant, not an officer.
Donation
All his officers were killed or maimed. He led men in the liberation on Langrune sur Mer, but from the inside out, and found it more heavily fortified than St Aubin sur Mer. Tom doesn’t regard himself as ‘heroic’ - they just got on with it.
LATE NEWS
The form for online Spanish Lessons can be downloaded at www.ciudadanosextranjeros.es but if you have problems contact the HELP DESK.
Avda. del Pla/Calle Pescara, 5 - JAVEA 03730 Tel: 96 646 1848 www.overseas.es
Store opening hours: Monday - Saturday, 8:30am - 9:00pm