Sheffield D-Day heroes heading to Normandy for anniversary commemorations

A group of Sheffield D-Day heroes will be returning to the beaches of Normandy next month to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the landings '“ with their trip being paid for through banking fines for fraud.
Sheffield Normandy Veterans who will be attending the beaches again 72 years after the original landings took place

L to R
Gordon Drabble, George Hodgson, Cyril Elliott, Douglas Austin, Charlie Hill
Picture Dean AtkinsSheffield Normandy Veterans who will be attending the beaches again 72 years after the original landings took place

L to R
Gordon Drabble, George Hodgson, Cyril Elliott, Douglas Austin, Charlie Hill
Picture Dean Atkins
Sheffield Normandy Veterans who will be attending the beaches again 72 years after the original landings took place L to R Gordon Drabble, George Hodgson, Cyril Elliott, Douglas Austin, Charlie Hill Picture Dean Atkins

Five Normandy veterans from Sheffield and eight family and friends will be taking part in the trip organised by charity D-Day Revisited.

Graham Askham, secretary of the Normandy Veterans group in Sheffield, said money for the trip – involving around 100 people from across the country – has been raised from banking fines connected to the Libor scandal, in which several prominent banks attempted to manipulate borrowing rates.

Sheffield Normandy Veterans who will be attending the beaches again 72 years after the original landings took place

L to R
Gordon Drabble, George Hodgson, Cyril Elliott, Douglas Austin, Charlie Hill
Picture Dean AtkinsSheffield Normandy Veterans who will be attending the beaches again 72 years after the original landings took place

L to R
Gordon Drabble, George Hodgson, Cyril Elliott, Douglas Austin, Charlie Hill
Picture Dean Atkins
Sheffield Normandy Veterans who will be attending the beaches again 72 years after the original landings took place L to R Gordon Drabble, George Hodgson, Cyril Elliott, Douglas Austin, Charlie Hill Picture Dean Atkins
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The trip to mark the 72nd anniversary of D-Day will leave the UK on June 2, with the veterans returning on June 9.

The visit has a packed itinerary and will include wreath-laying ceremonies and taking part in an official ceremony of remembrance at Bayeux Cemetery.

D-Day veterans Gordon Drabble, Charlie Hill, Cyril Elliott, Doug Austin and George Hodgson will be heading to France.

Mr Askham said: “It will be a very special occasion for all the veterans.

The D-Day landings unfoldThe D-Day landings unfold
The D-Day landings unfold
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“They will all have times of private remembrance when they are alone with their thoughts thinking of friends and comrades who did not come home, but I am sure there will also be lots of story telling and laughter.

“It will be a privilege to share these moments with them.”

Mr Askham said the trip will be particularly special for Charlie Hill, of Gleadless, who will be guest of honour at a ceremony held by his former regiment The Green Howards.

He said: “The ceremony will be held in the village of Crepon, a few miles inland from Gold Beach.

D-Day veteran Cyril Elliott from Shiregreen, Sheffield. Pictured when he was 23 years oldD-Day veteran Cyril Elliott from Shiregreen, Sheffield. Pictured when he was 23 years old
D-Day veteran Cyril Elliott from Shiregreen, Sheffield. Pictured when he was 23 years old

“Charlie fought alongside Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis the only man to be awarded the Victoria Cross on D-Day.

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“They fought their way from the beach reaching Crepon by late afternoon capturing a German gun battery on the way.

“In Crepon they overcame fierce opposition and captured another enemy gun emplacement in a well-defended farm.”