D-DAY 75th ANNIVERSARY

6th June 1944 - 6th June 2019

The 6th June 1944 is a very special day for all of us - D-DAY.

This year is the 75th Anniversary of D-DAY, and I will be CYCLING solo from Yorkshire all the way to the Memorial Pegasus Museum at Benouville, Normandy via the WW1 Graves of the Somme, a 400 + mile trip over 5 days.

I will be meeting up with my Dad (who will be 95) for the celebrations and memorial services subject to him being well enough to travel. Dad will also be meeting up with some of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Initially, I was just going to do the Ride, but I did think that it would be great to tell the story, remind people of what all those brave brave soldiers did for us 75 years ago, many of them losing their lives, and also try and make a few pounds to allow 3 charitable organisations to benefit from any donations you may wish to make.

The total raised will be split three ways between: Musée Mémorial Pegasus, The Veterans Charity and Fallen Heroes of Normandy.

My Dad - Robert 'Bob' Stoodley - was a Pathfinder, 20 years old, a Paratrooper, and he was in the first aeroplane to cross the channel (one of 4 Abermarle aircraft) which took off from RAF Harwell airfield at 23.10 pm on 5th June. With his brave comrades, their mission was to arrive before the main invasion and deploy the Eureka Beacons to guide in the other forces of the main attack.

My Dad was a Lance Corporal of the 22nd Independent Parachute Company of the 6th Airborne Division.

Bob Stoodley preparing for the invasion of 6th June 1944.

My Dad, Mum and George at the 70th D-Day Anniversary in 2014 - with my Mum proudly wearing the medals of her two 18 year old brothers who were lost at Dunkirk.

Upon landing, my Dad's friend Lance Corporal Edward Delany "Paddy" O'Sullivan, who followed him out of the aircraft, was killed instantly with legend recorded that he was found opposite that of a mortally wounded enemy soldier. 

The village of Trouffeville where they landed recognised 'Paddy' O'Sullivan as the British Paratrooper who 'liberated' their village and their country with his bravery, and the village has posthumously 'adopted' Paddy O'Sulivan and his 'official' War Grave lies in the grounds of the Church as a single 'offical' War grave outside the main Cemeteries.

Edward 'Paddy' O'Sullivan's solitary war grave at Trouffeville Church.

This is just one of the amazing stories of this area, and era, that needs to be kept alive for future generations to learn from, respect and understand, as tens of thousands lost their lives allowing us to live in a free world.

Memorial Pegasus

The Pegasus Museum in Normandy is a tribute and record of the great and important day of 6th June 1944 - D-Day - where the second World War was finally won with thousands of British and Allied Troops invading the shores of Normandy either by troop ship on the beaches or dropped by parachute, liberating the area in this important battle that simply changed all our lives. The Museum is at Benoville at the site of Pegasus Bridge.

Inaugurated on June 4th 2000 by HRH the Prince of Wales. The Memorial Pegasus is dedicated to the men of 6th Airborne Division and their role during the Battle of Normandy from June to September 1944.

The various missions for the division on June 6th 1944 are presented in the museum - these missions were accomplished with great success before dawn on D-Day but with heavy losses. More than 2000 soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and now lie at the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at Ranville several kilometres from the museum.

WEBSITE LINK CLICK HERE: MUSÉE MÉMORIAL PEGASUS

FACEBOOK LINK HERE: FACEBOOK / MUSÉE MÉMORIAL PEGASUS

INTAGRAM LINK HERE: INTAGRAM / MUSÉE MEMORIAL PEGASUS

The Veterans Charity

Founded in 2008, The Veterans Charity provides immediate needs support to Veterans of all generations who face hardship and distress. We supply essentials like food shopping, clothing, household items and utilities and communications support to hundreds of Veterans every year.

LINK CLICK HERE: THE VETERANS CHARITY

FACEBOOK LINK HERE: FACEBOOK / VETERANS CHARITY

Fallen Heroes of Normandy

This is an online memorial and archive, preserving the memory of those who fell in Normandy 1939 – 1945. This free-to-use website hosts over 50,000 pages, detailing those individuals and honouring their sacrifice.

Each memorial and cemetery page on the site also allows visitors to place their own words or message in a Book of Remembrance. This website is crucial to commemorate the memory of those who fell in Normandy. At present this is run as a Not for Profit Organisation.

LINK CLICK HERE: FALLEN HEROES OF NORMANDY

FACEBOOK LINK HERE: FACEBOOK / FALLEN HEROES OF NORMANDY

Your support:

I have set a small realistic target, and am funding the whole Ride including all B&Bs, Ferries, Meals from my own pocket, so ALL the donation goes to these three worthy causes, so if you think this is worth a donation, however small - then THANK YOU !

I just feel that I have to do this whilst my Dad is still with us, as this may well be his last visit to the area and the Memorial Services due to his health and mobility.

Thank you for reading and I hope if you are ever in the region .. please go and visit the Museum, and don't forget to check out the websites, of the other causes.

Thank you

Rapid Rich. (proud Son) !

INSTAGRAM: INSTGRAM / RAPID_RICH

TWITTER: TWITTER / D DAY 75 RIDE