Gosport & District Branch

As the Nation pays homage to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during D Day 70 years ago a small contingent from the Gosport and District Branch of the Royal Green Jackets Association made their way to the Foreshore Green, Hardway, Gosport to attend the D Day 70 parade and listen to personal accounts from D-Day Veterans.

During a short service of dedication a new Commemorative Stone was laid to honour of all those who fell during June 1944, the Caen Stone was part of the bridge over the River Orne in Caen and was destroyed as the allies progressed through Europe.

The Hardway played a vital part in D Day, used by Landing Craft Tank (LCT) and other vessels to take battle casualty replacements and equipment to the beach heads and to bring back the dead and wounded who were then sent to various hospitals along the south coast including Haslar and Netley.

As we marched back from the parade and service some of us felt humbled to have been around some astonishing veterans of D Day and to have listened to their own accounts of events that are only just coming to light after so many years. James Stokes, Secretary