D-Day Detective

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D-Day Detective

Specialist in providing detailed military historical advice about the events of Operation Overlord & beyond.

03/05/2024

Great photo here taken on June 11th 1954 . The man in the photo on the left is none other than Lt Col James E RUDDER 2nd Ranger Battalion. In June 1954 he took his 14 yr old son back to visit the cliffs and talk him through what happened. The picture featured in a Stateside magazine named “Colliers” . The picture on the right is the same location taken on the 08th June 1944.

30/04/2024

Out and about I am often asked “What is a hedgerow and what does it look like” This picture gives you an idea of the terrain of the Normandy Bocage. My big Bernese Mountain Dog “Hamish” gives a sense of the scale, deep, narrow and often filled with water. Post war analysis discovered more than 3,900 hedged enclosures in an area of less than eight square miles.

26/04/2024

The great thing about bespoke tours is that you often visit sites off the tourist trail. This church near the famous Band Of Brothers battle site of “Bloody Gulch” lies just outside of Carentan and is called the Chapelle Saint-Clément de Donville. Definitely worth a stop as there are many stories to tell.

Then and now photos

23/04/2024

If you know where to look then you can discover little hidden historical gems all around the Normandy countryside. This one is tucked away in a quiet churchyard just to the Southwest of Carentan. Hubert Descamps was a 26 yr old farm labourer from nearby Sainteny. Hubert courageously helped wounded and injured miss dropped D-Day paratroopers from the 101st. Sadly he was arrested by the Germans when they discovered discarded items from the paratroopers during house to house searches in Sainteny on the 11th June. He was immediately transported to the nearby German HQ at the Manoir de Donville and executed by firing squad on the 12th June 1944. His sacrifice was recognised by the awarding of the U.S. presidential plaque of gratitude on his grave. Another example of an unsung french hero you won’t read about in a history book. For me it is these personal stories that bring battlefield tours to life.

12/04/2024

French civilians helping to re-supply the Allies on Omaha Beach - not a health & safety rep in sight! 🤣
This picture was taken on 21st June 1944 (courtesy of NARA)

09/04/2024

Recently I went to La Fière with my good friend and professional photographer: Sabina Cowdery http://www.anibas.fr/

Sometimes it is quite refreshing to revisit battlefield locations you know very well with just friends or family, to take a moment and contemplate what actually happened right where you are standing.

If you visit La Fière take time to stop, look around and remember you truly are walking in the footsteps of giants!

Battle of La Fière 6th – 9th June 1944.

This photograph sums it all up in one easy visual representation, particularly the casualty figures shown on the plinth underneath the statue of “Iron Mike”. the figures speak for themselves:-

Killed 254 Wounded 525.

08/04/2024

Most visitors to Omaha Beach will want to see the famous “Braves” sculpture but I often wonder how many miss this small plaque located on the sea wall nearby.

This plaque commemorates the first allied landing on Omaha Beach and is dedicated to 3 fallen British Commandos of “Operation Aquatint”. Take a close look at the date, 12th September 1942, almost 1 year and 8 months before the D-DAY landings!

Of the 11 commandos that came ashore, 3 lost their lives during the action and are buried close by in the small churchyard of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.

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