In June 2012 we were in Caen. Visiting a church we saw a couple sitting, the lady speaking in French. Leaving the church I spotted a badge on his jacket “Normandy Veterans”. As we walked on I said “I should have thanked him for what he did”, I’d never been able to say thank you to a veteran. “Go back” said Karen, and I did, speaking to the French lady. Karen said something to me in English and the lady said, “but he too is English”. I shook his hand and thanked him on behalf of my family and friends. Tears in his eyes he humbly said “But I was only doing my job” in a strong North East accent. He carried on telling me that he went back every D-Day anniversary to pay his respects to his mates who unlike him didn’t survive that day or the war. “What part of the North East?” I asked. “I live in Bedlington” he said, “but I was born in Bar'nton, which is now gone”. I know I said, I lived there until I was 4. Small world, I was very humble as they walked away. One of my simple desires realised to say thank you, and to a fellow Geordie. At the time we lived in the East Midlands and here we are now in Bedlington not too far from his birthplace.
In June 2012 we were in Caen. Visiting a church we saw a couple sitting, the lady speaking in French. Leaving the church I spotted a badge on his jacket “Normandy Veterans”. As we walked on I said “I should have thanked him for what he did”, I’d never been able to say thank you to a veteran. “Go back” said Karen, and I did, speaking to the French lady. Karen said something to me in English and the lady said, “but he too is English”. I shook his hand and thanked him on behalf of my family and friends. Tears in his eyes he humbly said “But I was only doing my job” in a strong North East accent. He carried on telling me that he went back every D-Day anniversary to pay his respects to his mates who unlike him didn’t survive that day or the war. “What part of the North East?” I asked. “I live in Bedlington” he said, “but I was born in Bar'nton, which is now gone”. I know I said, I lived there until I was 4. Small world, I was very humble as they walked away. One of my simple desires realised to say thank you, and to a fellow Geordie. At the time we lived in the East Midlands and here we are now in Bedlington not too far from his birthplace.
