Allied Victory Tours

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Allied Victory Tours

Private guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches and Normandy battlefields by historian Mike van de
(7)

19/02/2024

This weekend saw the first ever historical hike from Omaha Beach to Saint Lô. Over two days we hiked just over 57 km following the route of advance of the 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division.

15/02/2024

Tanker accounted for from WWII!
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) recently announced that U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Leroy C. Cloud, 24, of Thrall, Texas, killed during World War II, was accounted for Aug 29, 2023.
In July 1944, Cloud was assigned to Company A, 744th Tank Battalion, as a crew member of an M5A1 Stuart light tank. His unit was engaged in battle with German forces at Saint-Germain-d’Elle, France, on July 26 when his tank was struck by an enemy shoulder-fired rocket. Two crewmembers were able to escape the vehicle, but Cloud and another soldier were never seen or heard from again. Due to strong enemy artillery fire and intense combat, surviving crewmembers were unable to recover Cloud’s remains. He was declared missing in action, but the Germans never reported him as a prisoner of war. On Aug 16, with no evidence Cloud survived the fighting, the War Department issued a report of death.
On July 30, 1944, AGRC personnel recovered two sets of remains from an M5A1 destroyed in the vicinity of Saint-Lô. Ultimately, they could not identify the remains, designated X-141 and X-142 St. Laurent, and they were interred in the Normandy American Cemetery, France.
While studying unresolved American losses in the Saint-Germain-d’Elle area, a DPAA historian determined that the M5A1 Stuart tank recovered from the area belonged to Company A, where Cloud was assigned. This correlation led DPAA and American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) personnel to exhume the remains of X-141 and X-142 in April 2018 and sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis and identification.
Cloud’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Cloud will be buried in Taylor, Texas, on April 7, 2024.

Source: https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/3649142/tanker-accounted-for-from-wwii-cloud-l/

08/02/2024

Huge thanks go out to Mr Kevin Dennehy and Mr Stephen Powers for recommending Allied Victory Tours, the Le Pont de la Pierre Vintage B&B as well as the Women Of Valour WW2 Museum in their latest book "The D-Day Visitor's Handbook - 80th Anniversary Edition". The book describes easy to follow routes to the many historical sites and battlefields in Normandy and Paris, as well as recommends must-sees, hotels and restaurants.
Kevin Dennehy

06/02/2024

Quite a cool moment to be able to climb up the steps into the bell tower of the church at Angoville-au-Plain. Today, the tour with the Pattersons from Maryville Tennessee brought a different dimension to the tour when sharing the story of Ken Russell, from Maryville Tennessee, who was 'the other guy' who landed on the church in Sainte Mère Église.

04/01/2024

First tour of 2024 was spent with Russell and Preston from Australia and we covered the British and Canadian Sectors. On Sword Beach in Colleville-Montgomery we took a moment to pay our respects at the monument to the 1st Battalion Marine Commandos (1er Battalion de Fusiliers Marins Commando 1BFM) of 177 Free French commandos who landed here on D-Day. By the end of the day, they had suffered 10 men killed and 34 wounded.

21/12/2023

As 2023 draws to a close, I am thinking back to a wonderful year meeting so many fantastic people from all over the world and again I would like to let you know that it has been an absolute pleasure to have been your guide and to spend the day(s) touring with you!

To all of you and to my future clients:
Have a lovely Christmas and a wonderful, healthy and victorious New Year!

PS A huge Thank-You to all you awesome people to write such incredible reviews on Tripadvisor, Google Review, Tours By Locals and Viator. Thanks again so much for your kindness!

17/12/2023

Lovely surprise yesterday to meet the nephew of Captain Roy Creek, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Of course we headed down to Chef-du-Pont where there's a photograph of Capt Creek posing next to the original bridge photograph which was taken on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. In essence it's a photo of a photo of a bridge, 1944-1994-2023!

31/10/2023

Recently the second level of the Women Of Valour WW2 Museum was officially unveiled by female members of the Washington DC National Guard. Four additional spaces are dedicated to more allied women's services, as well as a special display in memory of the previous home owners during the second world war. Allied Victory Tours offers exclusive visits to this unique museum in the world. Check out www.womenofvalourww2museum.com

27/10/2023

Today marks the 79th anniversary of the liberation of my hometown Goirle, The Netherlands, by the 2nd Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps (4th Armoured Brigade) and the nearby Tilburg by the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division. In this photo, British troops celebrate with the locals. #1944

17/10/2023

Today had another incredible surprise in store: in the tour group was Karen, the daughter of Ken Bell, a Canadian photographer who served with the Canadian armed forces during the Second World War. As a Lieutenant in the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit, he participated in the Normandy Landings, disembarking at Juno Beach on June 6, 1944, with the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. Later he went on to photograph and record the liberation of France, Belgium and the Netherlands, and finally documented the occupation of Germany. After the war he had a successful career as a professional photographer, and published a number of books including Not in Vain, a collection of photographs showing the changes which had taken place in Europe since the end of the war.

We covered both some American sites to then visit Bernières-sur-Mer where Ken Bell had taken many photographs, including the famous view from the beach towards the Canada House (in colour!) and the column of German POWs being led away.

To top it all, Karen presented me with a copy of Ken's 1973 book Not In Vain which had been signed by him, and Karen added her name it to too... what a priceless gift, thank you so much!

26/09/2023

Moments like these do not often happen: my clients told me as soon as I picked them up from their hotel that their father, 1st Lt Thomas James Wilson III had landed on Utah Beach on D+5, and that he had served in the 980th Field Artillery Battalion. Furthermore, his cousin 1st Lt Turner Mason Chambliss jr jumped into Normandy on D-Day with G Company 506th PIR and had landed near Beaumont (between Angoville and St Côme du Mont).
This day we spent following in both their footsteps - first off we visited Beaumont and then on to St Côme du Mont to see the memorial dedicated to Lt Chambliss' battalion commander LTC Wolverton. Neither men did not survive D-Day: by evening, Lt Chambliss had reached the first bridge across the river Jourdain, and followed the d**e along the road that leads to Carentan, and just before he reaches the bridge across the river Douve he was killed by a German sniper.
We also visited Sugar Red Beach on Utah where Lt Wilson had landed, and two additional locations where is battery of 155mm guns fired from on various days following the invasion. To end the day with a bang, I took them to see an actual Long Tom which is on display near Omaha Beach. Lt Wilson after WW2 became a judge, and passed away in 1994.
With thanks to Daniel for allowing them to write both their father's and his cousin's name on the wall at Café Roosevelt.

25/09/2023

Still buzzing after meeting my beautiful daughter Charlotte again after many years! Last month we celebrated my mother's 80th birthday in Amsterdam, and to have Charlotte with us made the day simply unforgettable. I am super proud of her and her achievements, and hope that we'll be able to meet again soon with Arlette and Menno Jan too. I love you!

09/09/2023

On This Day, 9 September... 1938: the formation of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in the United Kingdom.
On This Day, 9 September... 1943: the Allied landings in Italy, Operation Avalanche, D-Day.
On This Day, 9 September... 2023: my wife Deborah's 60th birthday!
#1938 #1943 #1963

26/08/2023

On route to the Netherlands I passed through Belgium and this painter's van caught my eye: their company has used the insignia of the US Armored Divisions for their logo.
George S. Patton wanted a shoulder patch for the newly formed Tank Corps after seeing the patch worn by the 82nd Infantry Division. Patton challenged his officers to construct a patch composed of red, yellow and blue that exemplified the Tank Corps which had “the firepower of the artillery (red), the mobility of the cavalry (yellow) and ability to hold ground of the infantry (blue)”. Second Lieutenant Will G. Robinson showed Patton a design composed of a “pyramid of power” divided into the three colors which Patton quickly adopted for the Tank Corps. The patch remained a symbol of the AEF Tank Corps until it was abolished in the National Defense act of 1920.

31/07/2023

On this day 79 years ago, 31 July 1944, elements of the 1st Battalion of the 115th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division was fighting for the liberation of Percy, Normandy, France. During the battle, Staff Sergeant Victor Zorman was killed. He is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. He was from Cumberland, Maryland, was divorced with one child whom we believe to be still alive. My wife Deborah and I adopted his grave and each year we remember him. We are still searching for living relatives to let his family know that Victor is not forgotten. Thank you Victor for your sacrifice, we will never forget!

14/07/2023

On 14 July / 14 juillet we remember Comandant Kieffer, commander of the 1st Battalion Marine Commandos (1er Battalion de Fusiliers Marins Commando 1BFM) who led 177 commandos of the Free French forces in their assault on Sword Beach on D-Day. By the end of the day, they had suffered 10 men killed and 34 wounded. After the war, Commandant Kieffer became a citizen of Grandcamp-Maisy and following his death in 1962 he was interred in their local cemetery. Vive La France!

24/05/2023

Recently my wife and I stopped at the German Military Cemetery in Marigny. The mission was to visit the grave of Alfred Klar, a 17-year old young boy who was killed on 12 June 1944 during the battle for the bridge Le Pont de la Pierre in Saint Clair sur l'Elle, and he very likely gave his life on our land. We felt it necessary to come and pay our respects to him and although it was a glorious day, the beautifully maintained site exudes sadness. Alfred served in the 2. Kompanie Pionier Battalion 352. From 1944 until 1948 the site was an American cemetery.

16/05/2023

You never know who you bump into on an Allied Victory Tour: today I introduced my group of Californians and a French gentleman from Rouen to Mr George Luz Jr. His father was with Easy Company. 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division. As always George Jr took time to gave a photo taken with John Steele hanging from the Notre Dame church in Sainte Mère Église.

12/05/2023

In recognition of their irreplaceable contributions, International Nurses Day is celebrated worldwide on May 12, which also happens to be the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. Today I am remembering army nurse Dorothy Anyta Field of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service (QARANS). Sister Dorothy Field is one of only two women out of 22,442 service personnel to be named on the British Normandy Memorial.

On 7 August 1944 Dorothy and fellow nurse Sister Mollie Evershed lost their lives helping to save wounded men from HMHS Amsterdam, a sinking hospital ship off the coast of Normandy.

The Amsterdam had been involved in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, carrying elements of the American 2nd Ranger Battalion to Pointe du Hoc. The ship was then converted into a hospital ship and it was during a third return sailing that it struck a mine near Juno Beach.

Dorothy, the Sister in Charge, had made it to one of the life boats, but when she realised that many of the wounded men were still aboard she returned to the stricken vessel. Dorothy and her fellow sister, Molly, managed to bring 75 wounded men to safety.

They were both still below decks when the ship sank and as such their bodies was never recovered – with them being commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Bayeux Memorial.

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Monday	08:00 - 20:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 20:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 20:00
Thursday	08:00 - 20:00
Friday	08:00 - 20:00
Saturday	08:00 - 20:00
Sunday	08:00 - 20:00

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Memorial Day 2023 at the Normandy American Cemetery. Paying my respects to the 9,387 fallen who are buried here, as well as the 1,557 who are listed on the wall of the missing. Special time was taken to visit the graves of 2nd Lt William McGowan, 2nd Lt Ralph Ferguson, Pvt Glen Stevens an S/Sgt Victor Zorman. We will never forget! #ww2 #normandy #operationoverlord #operationneptune #france #abmc #normandyamericancemetery #neverforget #lestweforget #alliedvictorytours

Surprise fly over by a C-130 “Hercules” just my clients and arrive on Omaha Beach. #surprise #omahabeach #viervillesurmer #normandy #c130 #hercules #lowtide #noclouds #alliedvictorytours

For VE-Day 2021, Deborah and I placed flowers at our monument and flew the 29th Division flag. What did you do to celebrate Victory In Europe Day? #veday #8may1945 #anniversary #VictoryinEurope #remembrance #neverforget #celebrate #freedom #flag #29thinfantrydivision #29LetsGo

Very excited to have heard - and recorded - the first one of the season in Normandy! #operationoverlord #operationneptune #missionchicago #missiondetroit #flashthunder #alliedvictorytours

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