'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.'
These poignant words, this year, mean more than ever. 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings of 6th June - the largest seaborne invasion in history – which marked the beginning of the liberation of western Europe.
As many of us witnessed at the services televised in June, the numbers of survivors of that changing point in the war are now dwindling.
Unprecedented coordination between Allied nations and the intensive planning of engineers, meteorologists, logisticians and countless more, led to a force from 13 countries approaching Normandy in a 5000-vessel armada.
In the early hours of D-Day, 24,000 paratroopers and glider-borne troops landed behind German lines to provide tactical support. Massive naval and aerial bombardments attempted to supress the German defences and weaponry. Then a ground force of more than 130,000 troops came ashore on five beaches across a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast, with the first waves often facing intact defences.
By the end of D-Day there had been 10,000 allied casualties. Yet this was only the beginning.
The ensuing Battle of Normandy was to last into August and cost tens of thousands of lives as it defeated and repulsed the occupying German forces eastwards.
Elsewhere around the globe exceptionally hard-fought battles were also turning the tide of the war. The Battle of Monte Cassino was the bloodiest of the Italian Campaign and in India outnumbered British and Indian forces withstood weeks of siege and brutal fighting at the Battles of Kohima and Imphal.
Were it not for the bravery of so many, our daily lives today might be very different.
The connection with Tysoe
Every year, on Remembrance Sunday, many of us meet at the War Memorial and in St Mary’s; not only to pay our respects to the Fallen, but to keep alive an enduring memory of the horrors of war and to remember those that continue to suffer its consequences. There are still Tysoe men and women alive who participated in World War II.
For over 20 years David Sewell has been running the Poppy Appeal to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. As a former soldier, he knows well the value of the Service Family and how they support each other in times of conflict and in peace.
On the 10th November 2024 Tysoe villagers will meet at the hall to add further support to David's annual fundraising efforts. Your Hall Management Committee are delighted to have assembled a truly wonderful cast of presenters, performers and supporters to provide not only an interesting and enjoyable afternoon, but also to help raise an additional donation to David's tireless work for the Royal British Legion.
Read on to better understand the afternoon and to book your tickets. Places are limited and likely to sell out very quickly, such is the high regard in which David, and the cause he so diligently represents, is held by those in Tysoe.
During an event of respectful entertainment you will hear from:
- Welcome - Ben Viollet, Chair of Trustees, Tysoe Village Hall
- Kevin Wyles - sharing the role his father played at RAF Shenington / Edgehill
- Anton Lesser - reading from passages of wartime poetry
- Benjamin Keyser - reciting moving prose
And expect to enjoy:
- The CCOTS Choir - bringing back musical memories
- Tysoe's WI - serving you a delicious Afternoon Tea
- Raffle - make sure you have purchased PLENTY of tickets
- The National Anthem
- The Exhortation
- The Kohima Epitaph
Doors open : 2:00pm
Running time : approximately two hours
Tickets : online or from Jacqui and the team at Tysoe Post Office
Unable to attend?
We understand that not everyone will be able to attend in person, but wish to support this fundraising event remotely. We have teamed up with the Royal British Legion to create a fundraising page - your generosity is welcomed - thank you.
