D-Day 6th June – 80 Years On
On this day 80 years ago today, 1,534 British soldiers lost their lives. Out of those 1,534 casualties, 1,244 died in France. Out of those 1,244, the Green Howards lost 29 men. My father served with the Green Howards; how many of those aged between 18 and 36 years would he have known?
My father was to land on the Normandy beaches on D-Day +3. He left the landing craft on D-Day + 1 hour (60 Mins). You can read the transcribed highlights of his 1944 diary here.
Serjeant, 5045632, Samuel L Wright, son of Samuel and Bridget, served with the Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment) 7th Bn. He was 36 when he died on that memorable day in history. He rests in Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville, France, some 17 miles northwest of Caen. ‘Duty Done RIP’.
Two 18-year-olds served with the Green Howards and died on the 6th. Bernard Sidebottom, 14672954 and Jack Donohue, 14666034; one 19-year-old, 14612515, Derrick Beckwith, and some with no age included in their CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) entry. Young men but still ‘boys’ in their mother’s eyes – not even old enough to vote for their country but old enough to die for it.
Did these young men look towards their older comrades for reassurance as they boarded their transport on the 5th and made their way down the Solent, heading for Gold Beach.
The war diary of the 6th Green Howards can be viewed here
The war diary of the 7th Green Howards can be viewed here
The Green Howards Museum has a great deal of information about the events that occurred on that day 80 years ago.
Victoria Cross
At the Seige of Lucknow (Indian Mutiny), 24 Victoria Crosses were won, a testament to the bravery of our soldiers. On D-Day 80 years ago, only one Victoria Cross was awarded—to a Green Howard man—CSM Stanley Hollis. During his service, Stanley was wounded twice and was a true hero.
Back to one of the young men, Private 14672954 Bernard Sidebottom rests in Bayeux War Cemetery with over 4,000 other identified casualties.
Bernard was born on 27th August 1925 in Methley to George and Lily Sidebottom. George worked as a hewer at one of the local mines.
His parents had inscribed on his CWGC headstone, ‘Treasured Memories of Bernard, Killed On ‘D’ Day RIP. To have this on their son’s headstone, they were either very proud of their son and wanted all who came after to see, or they were very bitter and wanted all to see their sacrifice.