Day 6 - 6 June

63 years after D-Day, we were excited to have the chance to spend today with friends in Normandy, celebrating the liberation of France and remembering the men of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, our predecessor Regiment, who took part in this defining moment in European history.

The day began with breakfast at the Mairie at Bénouville - the site of Pegasus Bridge and the first village to be liberated in France. We then took part in the parade across the Bridge to the Signal Monument, where a memorial service was held and children of the Village gave flowers to the Veterans present. Our bugler for the day, PI Andrew Hames, former cadet and now Instructor, played last post and reveille. We then joined the Village in returning across the present Pegasus Bridge, to the memorial to the men of 7 Para, where a brief service of commemoration was held. We joined the Maire, Veterans and the people of Bénouville for drinks and snacks at the Salle des Fetes.

Lunch was a picnic in the grounds nearby and the Cadets enjoyed the chance to play football with local children.

This was a long day. In the afternoon we attended two more ceremonies - at Escoville and Herouvillette. These villages, both struck hard by the fighting in the days after D-Day, welcomed us, along with Veterans and their famillies, to remember those who died and to celebrate the peace that the sacrifices of D-Day brought. At Herouvillette, the children played their recorders and sang a song. Again we provided the appropriate Bugle calls and the Cadets laid their own wreath. Afterwards, we joined the Maire of Herouvillette at the village foyer for refreshments.

At the end of the day, the Cadets enjoyed a brief shopping trip at the Centre Commerciale at Herouville St. Clair, before we returned home for the traditional end of tour meal - chicken Vallée d'Auge followed by sticky cakes! This was a noisy and chaotic occasion - all 25 of us in the kitchen was a bit of a struggle but added to the fun.