France River Cruise
September, 2014
Le Havre & Honfluer
The port of Le Havre was our birth for this end of the cruise. We were supposed to dock in Honfluer, but the permits hadn't been issued for this new ship to go out into the open ocean in order to make the short journey over to the far side of the Seine estuary. It was from there that we were supposed to embark on the bus tour of the D-Day beaches.
There were three tours offered. One for the Australians, one for the Americans and one for us Canadians. This was because each nationality landed on a different beach, and it made sense to have it so people could see where their countrymen came ashore.
Our tour took us first to Arramouches, where the Landing Museum was located, and where the main temporary harbour was assembled to receive ongoing supply ships once this area had been won over to the allies and remained under their control.
From there we were taken to a boutique hotel where we were served a delicious lunch before we went over to Juno beach, and the Canadian museum Centre Juno Beach.
The way to all of the memorials is well signed and very visible.
The beach where the Canadians landed on that bloody and historic day was wide and deep. Once there it was easy to see how the Nazi forces could mow down so many of our young men before they made cover. The photo at the top of this page is of Juno Beach. All along the head of the beach, elevated three to six metres above the sand, were pill boxes and bunkers where the enemy forces were well dug in.
After Juno Beach we made our way to the Canadian D-Day memorial cemetery, Beny-sur-Mer, a short distance away. It was somewhat comforting to see how well maintained the cemetery was. The people of France continue to hold these soldiers' sacrifice in high esteem.
