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D Day Memories: In Birmingham

by patientpat

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Contributed by听: patientpat
People in story:听: Patricia Richards
Location of story:听: Birmingham,England
Article ID:听: A2395217
Contributed on:听: 07 March 2004

You have asked for memories of D.Day. For a number of years Birmingham City Centre had been filled with thousands of American troops, the centre of the city was always full of men in military uniforms, not only Americans but English, Polish and other countries who were helping our war effort - you name it they were there. One of the main reasons for the city always being so full of military personnel was due to the fact that a lot of the forces would be under way travelling from one part of the country to another and in many cases this meant they had to get off in Birmingham, at New St Station and then have to walk across the city centre to Snow Hill station or vice versa. On the outskirts of Birmingham thousands of American troops were billeted. This was just up the road from where I lived.

I wonder how many people living today could imagine how Birmingham City Centre was in those days, absolutely full of people, over 50% or more in uniform.

A few days before D.Day we had noticed that there were not so many troops in the City centre. When I got into the City on the morning of 6th June it was like a ghost town, arriving at work I found the reason why everyone was talking about the big battle that was going on over the Channel. I was a girl of 15 at the time and I can`t ever make anyone understand the effect that day had on me but I have never forgotten that day and every year on 6th June I always pray for those men, living and dead, and shed a few tears. I don`t know why this day has had such an effect on my life I know about all the other terrible battles fought and the lives sacrificed but I think we all saw this as our last chance to win the war. My father was in the Army and had already survived Dunkirk and other major battles so I was naturally very concerned as we did not know where he was.

D Day a day I will remember to the day I die.
Sincerley
Pat Richards.

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Message 1 - "D" Day.

Posted on: 07 March 2004 by Frank Mee Researcher 241911

Hello Pat,
A well written story and something we, as we are of an age can understand where others cannot. Our own area was always bustling with Airmen from many countries as we lived on what became one large airbase up here on the North East Coast.
There was comment that the town was suddenly quiet though we did not think too much about it. We watched the hundreds of Bombers take off during the evening and had learned to judge roughly where they would be going by the time they started to circle before heading out over the sea and the time they came back, those that did.
The morning we woke up and found out the Allies had landed in Normandy our worry was for those thousands of local men in our home Regiments. We knew they had been told it would not be easy and to expect massive casualties so I can imagine what they were thinking as they headed ashore.
Like all of us Pat you would worry for those men and it stayed with me too. After all those years when we were alone. Then came the first victory at Alamein and the fighting for the next couple of years leading up to "D" Day. It was relief that this could mean the end and fear that our relatives would not come back safely. It is understandable that the day has stayed with you and will always do so.
As to the modern gimme kids, I think that those men who gave everything at that time would be happy for those same kids. The war was fought in part to ease the burdon of being directed in every walk of life. Those kids have some freedom my own grandchildren among them. The thing is I would not like to have to start again in their rat race world which seems so much harder to me than our time. Those kids are just as caring in their own way, their priority's may differ from ours but it is their freedom to choose, thank goodness they have that freedom.
Keep writing your stories Pat and keep those memories alive for the kids to read when all the 60 years after programs start. They will become curious and want to know it is human nature to do so.
Regards Frank.

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