I’m not altogether sure that the Duchess of Richmond, and Major General Douglas Graham of 50th Infantry Division, have ever been compared before; but they do share an unusual link. On the eve of Waterloo, the duchess organised a grand ball in Brussels, attended by the great and the good. And whether Gen. Graham was aware of the similarity or not, he decided that the best way for his officers to become acquainted before D-Day was to hold a dance. And as the officers and men under his command performed the task of taking Gold Beach admirably, he may well have been onto something.
This is just one tale told by the participants of Wemfests’ excellent DVD, This Was Our D-Day; produced by Millstream Productions of Emsworth, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It tells the tales of local residents’ memories of D-Day, starting with the buildup, and right into the thick of the action. And there’s some very poignant viewpoints interspersed in this fascinating glimpse into the past, such as Solange who grew up in Paris. She and her family had German soldiers billeted on them, and she remembers how considerate they were, always taking their boots off so as not to wake her family. “Unlike the French troops,†she adds with a twinkle in her eye.
And what she has to say on war is perhaps a timely reminder to the present generation. “War is terrible. It just gets people killed. I don’t believe in war, but Hitler had to be stopped . . . It left me empty inside for many years.â€
Which is why this new DVD is such a valuable resource, and a genuine community effort. For example it gave real work experience to some ex-students of Park Community College who have now embarked upon media related degrees, and all production was carried out locally.
To buy your copy email wemsfest@btinternet.com. Copies cost £10 plus £1 package and posting. Altenatively, Bookends in Emsworth also have them on sale.