John Sheldon's photos with the keyword: Invasion of Normandy

At Vimoutiers in Normandy this German Tiger Tank from World War II stands near the place when it ran out of fuel during the Battle of the Falaise Pocket in August 1944. An American bulldozer pushed the tank into a ditch in order to clear the road. It was left in the ditch until 1975 when it was dug out, restored and placed where it is now. A fearsome weapon, a single one of these Tiger Tanks is reputed to have destroyed several enemy tanks in just 3 or 4 minutes.

A restored USA Sherman M4A1 tank, used by Polish troops in World War II and named General Maczek. It is at the Montormel Memorial Museum in Normandy. Montormel, code named Hill 262, was defended by the 1st Polish Armoured Division under General Maczek during the Battle of the Falaise Pocket in August 1944. It was of great strategic importance, to both sides. The Division held its position here and was instrumental in plugging the “Falaise Gap” escape route for retreating German troops, despite being only 1500 men strong, under equipped and short of supplies, against a foe of many thousands.

I wanted to emphasise the metal Tank Track (or Caterpillar Tread) on this vehicle and found that adopting a ‘pseudo HDR’ approach was the best way to do that. Not a technique I have ever used much but it has its place in the resources available to the picture maker. A restored World War II Churchill Tank on the Hill of Peace Memorial in Normandy. The Hill of Peace Memorial is near the World War II battle site in the Normandy Bocage that was code named Hill 112, not far from the city of Caen. It was the scene of one of the bloodiest battles in that war; carnage is the word usually used. The Memorial is not on Hill 112 itself because residual material left there in 1944 is a danger to life.

Otherwise known as the 'Corridor of Death'. In August of 1944, many thousands of German soldiers were killed or injured in the 10 km corridor that runs from Trun to Chambois, as their retreating army became trapped in what is known as the Falaise Gap or Falaise Pocket. This had been the escape route that the German commanders had been relying on in the event of a withdrawal but when it was closed off by a pincer movement of Polish, Canadian and USA troops it became a 'killing field'. Eye witnesses still alive in Chambois still find August a difficult month every year. When US General Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived at the site he said: “The battlefield at Falaise was unquestionably one of the greatest ‘killing fields’ of any of the war areas. Forty-eight hours after the closing of the Gap I was conducted through it on foot, to encounter scenes that could be described only by Dante.”

Located next to the British Commonwealth War Cemetery at Fontenay-le-Pesnel in Normandy, France, this memorial honours the men of the 49th West Riding (Yorkshire) Division of the British Army for their service and sacrifices during 1944 and 1945 in the “D-Day” invasion of Normandy. The polar bear badge motif central to this structure was adopted in 1940 when the Division was stationed in Iceland. The bear on the Memorial reflects changes to the design adopted in 1943.

At the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Coleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, France. This is close to the coastline that was code-named Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. This was the beach where most of the troops from the USA landed on D-Day. The Memorial area is organized around this 22-foot tall bronze statue, “The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves.” The statue faces west toward the headstones of the 9,380 USA service personnel buried in the cemetery area. Most of these lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations.

At the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Coleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, France. This is close to the coastline that was code-named Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. This was the beach where most of the troops from the USA landed on D-Day. The Memorial area is organized around this 22-foot tall bronze statue, “The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves.” The statue faces west toward the headstones of the 9,380 USA service personnel buried in the cemetery area. Most of these lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations.

My picture gives no sense of scale, but this is one of four urns each about 4 feet (1.2 metres) tall. The Memorial is linked with a cemetery in which 9,380 USA service personnel are buried, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings in 1944 or in the ensuing operations. This urn represents words with which troops from both Jewish and Christian backgrounds will have been familiar: “The spirit of the lord moved on the face of the waters.” This seems to be fitting, since the Cemetery contains the graves of Christians and Jews, who fell together serving a common purpose. On the water, a spray of laurel recalls to memory those who lost their lives at sea; a rainbow emanates from each hand of the figure symbolizing hope and peace.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is at Coleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, France. It overlooks the coastline that was code-named Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. This was the beach where most of the troops from the USA landed on D-Day. The Memorial area is organized around a 22-foot tall bronze statue, “The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves,” which can be glimpsed through the wall in this picture.

In the D-Day Garden at Arromanches-sur-Mer, Normandy, metal sculptures have been placed to suggest scenes from the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. The sculptures have been made out of small metal washers, individually welded together. This area of coastline was code-named Gold Beach and was where mostly British troops landed. This beach saw 1100 allied casualties on the D-Day itself, including 350 killed. The D-Day Garden was opened in June 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

In the D-Day Garden at Arromanches-sur-Mer, Normandy, metal sculptures have been placed to suggest scenes from the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. The sculptures have been made out of small metal washers, individually welded together. This area of coastline was code-named Gold Beach and was where mostly British troops landed. This beach saw 1100 allied casualties on the D-Day itself, including 350 killed. The D-Day Garden was opened in June 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

German big gun placed during the occupation of France so as to defend the Normandy Coast from attack from La Manche / the 'English Channel'. This gun, thankfully out of action forever now, is near Arromanches-sur-Mer / Gold Beach.

This is one of many memorials placed outside the Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. The number of names recorded is horrifying. "The Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War museum and cultural centre located in Normandy, France. The Centre pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War, of which 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy and 359 on D-Day. Opened in 2003 by veterans and volunteers with a vision to create a permanent memorial to all Canadians who served during the Second World War, the Centre’s mandate is to preserve this legacy for future generations through education and remembrance." (The Centre's own website.)

In the Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. Presumably a member of the Canadian forces that landed at Juno Beach in June1944 was responsible for this artwork. [I had to photograph this: Donald has always been my favourite cartoon character, alongside Sylvester the Cat.] DD or Duplex Drive tanks, nicknamed "Donald Duck tanks" were a type of amphibious swimming tank developed by the British during the Second World War. The phrase is mostly used for the Duplex Drive variant of the M4 Sherman medium tank, that was used by the Western Allies during and after the Normandy Landings in June 1944. (Wikipedia.)

This picture of 'Sword Beach' is taken from Collville-Montgomery, looking towards Ouistreham. The strip of coastline code-named Sword Beach for the purposes of the Normandy Landings (D-Day landings) in June 1944 covers the five miles from Lion-sur-Mer to Ouistreham. Here is where British army units, with French and British Commandos, landed on 6th June, 1944.

The Café Gondrée is a small coffeehouse in the French community of Bénouville. The cafe is located on the west bank of the Caen Canal, at the northwest end of the Bénouville Bridge, now commonly referred to as the Pegasus Bridge. The building was the site of first combat during the D-Day invasion, and is best known for its role commemorating those events. (Wikipedia.)

Pegasus Bridge, originally called the Bénouville Bridge after the neighbouring village, is a road crossing over the Caen Canal, between Caen and Ouistreham in Normandy. The original bridge, built in 1934, is now a war memorial and is the centrepiece of the Memorial Pegasus museum at nearby Ranville. It was replaced in 1994 by this modern design which, like the old one, is a bascule bridge. (Wikipedia.) The original bridge played an important part in the June 1944 Normandy Landings. The brutalist style architecture contrasts with the cheerful mural created by schoolchildren. Let's hope that they never experience anything like the events of June 1944.

Pegasus Bridge, originally called the Bénouville Bridge after the neighbouring village, is a road crossing over the Caen Canal, between Caen and Ouistreham in Normandy. This is a picture of the original bridge structure which is now the centrepiece of the Memorial Pegasus Museum at Ranville. The Bridge played an important part in the June 1944 Normandy Landings. A force of 181 men in six Horsa Gliders landed at this bridge and at the nearby Horsa Bridge in order to prevent German forces from destroying them when news of the 'D Day Landings' broke. (There is more information on Wikipedia under 'Operation Deadstick'.) The 17 pounder anti tank gun (to the side of the picture) is an example of the weapons that were landed in Normandy, complete with towing trucks, by glider. This weapon was very powerful. (More information under "General Aircraft Hamilcar" on Wikipedia.)