Situated
just outside the town of Bayeux and in sight of the famous Cathedral,
is the British War Cemetery and Memorial, where those who died during
Operation Overlord from 6th June 1944 (D-Day) are buried or commemorated.
Bayeux
Military Cemetery is the largest British World War II Cemetery in
France. Row upon row of white gravestones, each with its small garden,
stand in militarily Regimented lines among the manicured lawns and
horse chestnut trees. It is a peaceful place, especially since the
Bayeux by-pass has taken much of the through traffic away from the
town, and the silence is broken by the song of birds thrushes,
blackbirds and chaffinches. The view from the cemetery is dominated
by the spires and copper dome of Bayeux Cathedral, and within a
short distance is the Bayeux Tapestry memories of a battle
fought long ago on British soil.
The
cemetery is the last resting place of 4,648 soldiers, sailors and
airmen from all corners of the world. Here you will find Major Generals
next to Privates, Catholics next to Jews, Russians next to Canadians.
Rank, creed and nationality have no meaning anymore. Every gravestone
represents someones son or daughter, husband or wife, father
or mother.
Across
the road nearest the town is the Bayeux Memorial. Here 2,808 men
and women who have no known grave are commemorated.
Close
by is the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum. In the grounds are
two American, a British and a German Tank. There are also three
memorials in the grounds.
|