A Handshake of Peace
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Normandy Veteran Dick Fisher (right) meets an old comradeMemorial Museum Peace Garden, Caen, Calvados, France
(Photograph taken on 5 June 1944)
The above photograph shows Mr Dick Fisher from Keswick, Cumbria (right) meeting one of his former Normandy Veterans at the inauguration of the British Peace Garden at Caen, Calvados, France on 5 June 2004. Friendship forged through adversity is a strong bond which tends to last forever. Even in a large crowd, friends will still recognise and greet each other.
For additional information click on ‘Comments’ below.
posted by ritsonvaljos at 1:23 pm
5 Comments:
Additional information:
During WW2 Dick Fisher served as Lance Corporal in the Royal Engineers between March 1943 and September 1947. He landed in Normandy on Sword Beach in the British Sector on D-Day 6 June 1944. His unit was the Sword Beach was the most easterly of the five landing beaches just to the north Caen.
For D-Day and the Battle of Normandy Dick was part of 940 I.W.T. Amphibious Regiment, Royal Engineers which was involved in some of the heaviest fighting on D-Day and in the days and weeks that followed.
The man on the left is my late father, Jim Walsh.
He was a regular in the RA at the outbreak of war. He manned the guns in Richmond Park during the Blitz and did a stint on Hellfire Corner.
In 1942 he undertook Commando training at Achnacarry. Later he transferred to the RE IWT to prepare for the Normandy Invasion.
He crossed the Channel on the Clan Lamont with the Canadians and landed on Juno beach near Courseulles on D-Day.
He worked on a Rhino ferry and was cox on a PBR unloading supplies from the Mulberry Harbour.
Subsequently making his way through Belgium and Holland and into Germany.
He knew Dick from their time in Normandy.
The picture was taken after a chance meeting in Normandy when Dick called Dad's name, recognising him after all those years!
The man on the left is my late father Jim Walsh.
The photo was taken after a chance meeting in Normandy during one of many Pilgrimages.
After seeing action during the Blitz and on Hellfire Corner and Commando training in Achnacarry, Dad joined the RE IWT.
He crossed to Normandy on the Clan Lamont with the Canadians landing on Juno beach at Courseulles on D-Day.
He worked the Mulberry harbour on a Rhino ferry and was cox on a PBR making his way through Belgium and Holland into Germany.
Dad was amazed that Dick had recognised him after so many years!
Hello Jane,
Thanks very much for the information and update about your Dad. Just goes to show that close friendships will last forever!
Thanks for the reply to my (duplicated) post.
It is true about friendship. At times of adversity strong bonds are made. This cameraderie is shared by all service personel even from different eras and different units etc..
I think they kept in touch via Christmas cards and such like after this encounter which was, incidently, much later than the date given.
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