Thursday 4th June.
09:00 After a hearty breakfast, the Veterans left the hotel and headed to the Canada Cross Memorial to lay a wreath in memory of those who spent their final days in the New Forest preparing for the offensive in Normandy.
The cross was erected in recent years near the site of the old Stoney Cross Aerodrome, one of several forest aerodromes built during World War II. The sparsely populated New Forest was an ideal location for assembling an invasion force, dense woodland to hide the vast build-up of men and equipment and flat open heathland which enabled airfields to be constructed comparatively quickly and economically. The southern edge of the forest extended to the English Channel, within easy reach of the shipping ports.
The inscription reads: “On this site a cross was erected to the glory of God on 14th April 1944. Services were held here until D Day 6th June 1944. Men of the 3rd Canadian Division RCASC.”
10:00 The entire group visited the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth where they each had their portrait photos taken for the Museum’s archives.
14:30 Ferry left Portsmouth beneath a clear blue sky. The group dined on board during the crossing.
21:30 The ferry arrived at Ouistreham and the group traveled to the ETAP hotel, Bayeux
