John Oram's photos with the keyword: Ranville

No single photograph can convey adequately the emotion of the experience of a visit to Ranville War Cemetery. I was deeply moved during my walk around the hundreds of stones and the abiding and searing memory is of how young were those who died. 200_3_P1050721

This round tower in Ranville, Lower Normandy, the first town to be liberated by the Allied forces after the Normandy landings, might have had a history as a mill - suggested by the stones outside. Today, standing as a striking monument in the small, peaceful town, it has attached to it a plaque commemorating the fallen of the Piron Brigade (The 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade). 200_3_P1050724

No single photograph can convey adequately the emotion of the experience of a visit to Ranville War Cemetery. I was deeply moved during my walk around the hundreds of stones and the abiding and searing memory is of how young were those who died. 200_3_P1050717R

This round tower in Ranville, Lower Normandy, the first town to be liberated by the Allied forces after the Normandy landings, might have had a history as a mill - suggested by stones outside. Today, standing as a striking monument in the small, peaceful town, it has attached to it a plaque commemorating the fallen of the Piron Brigade (The 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade). 200_3_P1050714C

This round tower in Ranville, Lower Normandy, the first town to be liberated by the Allied forces after the Normandy landings, might have had a history as a mill - suggested by the stones outside. Today, standing as a striking monument in the small, peaceful town, it has attached to it a plaque commemorating the fallen of the Piron Brigade (The 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade). 200_3_P1050710R

This magnificent building in Ranville, Lower Normandy is something of a mystery. Noted online only as, apparently, Église de Ranville (Ranville Church), it appears to have no specific name today. I understand from what I have read in French that the original church was demolished around 1860 "jugée vétuste et trop exiguë" (judged to be obsolete and too cramped) leaving only the bell tower and I believe the larger building to be the replacement (c1880). Viewed from the Ranville War Cemetery, the grounds of the church contain the parish cemetery. 200_3_P1050716R

In this view across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with the bust of Major John Howard and the marker for the landing site of his glider to the right of the picture. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050692

In this view across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with the Les 3 Planeurs café amongst the buildings in the background. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050682C

The tranquillity of today's scene between the Caen Canal and the River Orne belies the fury of 6 June 1944. On the bank of the Caen Canal itself stands this memorial marking 'the first part of France to be liberated' . To wander around this area today with the freedom bought by the bravery and lives of those involved in the remarkable glider-borne assault and the subsequent actions is a very moving experience. 200_3_P1050670R

At the site of the glider landings stands this bust of Major John Howard who commanded the critical operation to secure the bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne, later known as Pegasus and Horsa bridges, prior to the main invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. 200_3_P1050671E

The tranquillity of today's scene between the Caen Canal and the River Orne belies the fury of 6 June 1944. The larger markers in the centre of this picture mark the landing sites of Horsa gliders in the critical operation to secure Pegasus and Horsa bridges ahead of the main D-Day invasion. A third is obscured by foliage. The bust is of Major John Howard who commanded the operation. To wander around this area today with the freedom bought by the bravery and lives of those involved in the remarkable glider-borne assault is a very moving experience. 200_3_P1050669E

In this view west across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with the Café Gondrée amongst the buildings in the background. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050667R

In this view west across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with its steady stream of traffic. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050660R

In this view west across the Caen Canal, the present day Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville Bridge) can be seen with its steady stream of traffic. The famous original was replaced in 1994 by this longer, wider structure. It is now displayed at the nearby Mémorial Pégasus as shown earlier in my photos. 200_3_P1050662R

Centaur tank Mk IV 'Vidette' at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. 200_3_P1050649R

Centaur tank Mk IV 'Vidette' at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. 200_3_P1050650R

The flags of the Allies at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. 200_3_P1050651

Centaur tank Mk IV 'Vidette' at Mémorial Pégasus, Ranville. 200_3_P1050647CE