大象传媒

Introduction

This article has been submitted by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer story-gatherer for the 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� website on behalf of the 大象传媒 Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk. It has been written with the permission of Mr Roy Rogers from Egremont, Cumbria. The author understands the terms of the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� website.

Roy shared some of his wartime memories with me on Sunday 14 August 2005, just before taking part in a Veterans鈥� Parade along Main Street, Egremont. After the Parade, Roy joined other World War Two Veterans in a Thanksgiving Service commemorating the 60th Anniversary of 鈥榁J Day鈥�, marking the end of the war. This service was held at the Egremont Parish Church of St Mary鈥檚 and St Michael鈥檚 (Church of England).

Some of Roy鈥檚 memories of Normandy

During the war, Roy served in the 7th Royal Tank Regiment (7 RTR) and his unit took part in the Normandy Landings. Roy鈥檚 unit landed on 21 June 1944 (D + 15). They had been due to land earlier, about 15 June but they were held back a few days. By the time Roy鈥檚 unit landed they were all 鈥榬aring to go鈥�! While in Normandy, 7 RTR formed part of an Independent Brigade.

When they landed on the beach in France, Roy remembers they drove straight on the shingle beach and then moved inland. While in Normandy, Roy鈥檚 unit were involved in several battles, including the key Battle for Caen.

Roy is a member of the Normandy Veterans Association (West Cumbria) Branch No 51. He has been back to Normandy since the war, including June 2004, when he went with the West Cumbria Branch of the Normandy Veterans to take part in the 60th Anniversary commemorations of the Normandy Landings.

Before this pilgrimage to Normandy in June 2004, Roy was one of the West Cumbrian Veterans who were given a plaque by the then Mayor of Workington, Cumbria, Mr Richard Jones to present as a token of friendship to the Mayor of Bayeux, M. Patrick Gomont. Roy and the other Branch members presented this to M. Gomont at a 鈥楩riendship Ceremony鈥� held at Bayeux Town Hall. At this same ceremony, M. Gomont presented Roy with a special commemorative medal. This was one of the medals Roy was wearing for the Egremont Parade on 14 August 2005.

Conclusion

In 2005, Roy has taken part in a number of commemorative services and parades to mark the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War Two. Roy was one of more than 1000 World War Two Veterans who took part in the official county of Cumbria 鈥榁ictory Parade鈥� at Whitehaven on Sunday 26 June 2005.

This time, on 14 August 2005, Roy marched in the town where he lives to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of the war. He was one of about 100 Veterans who took part in the event.

Thank you, Roy, for sharing some of your memories and for what you did in the war years!

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