REPORTAGE
Even after three-quarters of a century, obstacles will not prevent families from honoring these heroes. While 76 years ago today, American troops landed in Normandy to liberate occupied France, D-Day commemorations are disrupted by the coronavirus epidemic, the health crisis preventing the families and relatives of missing soldiers to go to Normandy military cemeteries. To remedy this situation, a Bayeux tribute is planned.
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Myles Hunt, the gardener of the military cemetery of Bayeux, leaves his office with a plan in his hands. An essential object to identify among the 4,648 graves of the site. "The request was made to do for William James McDowell," he said. Arrived at the stele, and after checking that it was the right one, he took the opportunity to tell us a little more about this fallen soldier. battlefield to liberate France. "He was a lieutenant-colonel, a 'Royal Engineer', who died on July 31, 1944 at the age of 36.
700 plaques placed in 18 cemeteries
Somewhere in the world, a family, or perhaps a former regimental comrade, wanted to honor the memory of this Briton. Unable to move in this context of health crisis, this loved one has therefore ordered a small plaque from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It is a tribute plaque, a "Tribute", which Myles Hunt takes care to install before photographing it. "I am going to make a small hole, I place my" Tribute "and there, I will take a photo which will be sent to families who have requested it," he explains.
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Private travel but no tribute, that was the purpose of the operation "Remembering Normandy". In one week, 700 plaques were deposited in the 18 military cemeteries in the region.