My dad was at Normandy on June 6, 1944. He was operating landing craft in support of the invasion. He said he had three landing craft shot out from under him. Recently, my brother discovered that dad was also at the invasions of north Africa, Sicily, Salerno, and in Operation Tiger. He had a few stories, but generally didn't talk about the combat. Guess he saw things that he tried hard to forget. He always said he was living on borrowed time, as he had not expected to live through all of that.

@no-oneinparticular7264

Жыл бұрын

My father was a Commando, and never spoke about the war. When I dared to ask him what it was like, he said "Hell", and walked away. He never spoke about it ever, except to confirm he was a Commando and took part in the Spearhead operation.

@Valcour

Жыл бұрын

My Grandfather was in all of those places as well. He was injured in Africa and also at Utah beach. Both injuries were friendly fire incidents. He was shot in the right buttock on two separate campaigns. He received 2 purple hearts for being shot in the ass by his own teammates.

@meredithc2755

Жыл бұрын

My thanks to both of them and to all who have served to fight evil!

@johnhenderson131

Жыл бұрын

Wow, very impressive and interesting. Your dad had a dangerous job! I’m very familiar with the landing craft for Overlord and Husky but I don’t know much about operation Tiger! Thanks for sharing your memories. Surviving 1 landing craft shot. Out is remarkable enough let alone 3!

@russelrogers2540

Жыл бұрын

@@johnhenderson131 "Exercise Tiger" was written by Nigel Lewis(1990). Goes into great detail about this preparation for D-Day.

Thanks for this video, Kevin, my late Father was one of those British troops landed at Sword Beach. I'm VERY proud of his wartime service.

@samright4661

Жыл бұрын

God Bless all those brave men. RIP to your Dad .

Smart men and Brave men. My Grandfather too was one of them and as kids we were fascinated by the amount of jagged scars ,holes and bits missing from his body. Little did we realise how bright and brave these men really were. Alas he didn't tell many tales and survived all that but as a result went to greener pastures well before we had grown up. But we will never forget all of them for their contributions.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

A beautiful comment, thank you 👍🏻

The story of the crossword was fascinating. I’d never heard it before. Talking about the logistics for D Day was also very interesting. There’s so much going on it’s mind boggling. Thanks for the Awesome lesson Kevin.

I read about the crossword puzzle years ago but it made no mention of the boys. Makes more sense than just a coincidence. My Dad was a medic during the invasion and it didn't matter what country the injured came from, save those who could be saved. The most haunting memory that never left him was a German soldier he knelt down to assist but his lower jaw was gone and he had to move on to the next soldier. The pleading look in the Germans eyes when he had to leave him because there was no hope never left him. These young men had to fight each other but it didn't mean they lacked compassion.

My grandpa served during WWII. He was a crew chief on the B24's and won the Bronze star. I miss him so much 😢

Another good one. As Omar Bradley said: "Amateurs talk strategy. Professionals talk logistics"....

Kevin, your videos bring me back to my childhood of watching the history channel late into the night with my uncle. Thank you for all the effort you put into these

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure, thank you.

I've heard the story about the crossword puzzle and codenames before and thought it was interesting. What took me off guard and had me laughing for a minute straight was when you mentioned that those boys got the words from soldiers they overheard, great work as always!

Thanks for another great story, Kevin! I'm a "boomer" and i think most of us grew up seeing remnants of WWII and had relatives who served in some capacity. The story continues to fascinate because we're always learning of some battle or other aspect that occurred in a remote corner of the theater, only now brought to light as people use tools on the Internet to search archives or images of the earth in those areas. I greatly appreciate what you do!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Hi JC, that's very kind of you and thank you so much for the SUPER, it's very much appreciated. I'm so happy to have the opportunity to create these films and share some of the lesser known elements from history. All the best to you. Kevin

This is my own little favorite era of history. Although I am familiar with all the aspects of the invasion and its planning, I still really enjoyed this episode. More people are around now that really have no idea of what D-Day even was, much less all the history surrounding it. Since you have a large audience, I hope that it inspires more younger people to learn even more. Cheers from Texas.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely, that's my aim. Cheers David, thanks for watching & your support 👍🏻

Fun fact. PLUTO ran very near the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. This railway was a minature railway running "15 inch" gauge trains. To help defend the PLUTO, the railway had its own miniature armored train which would shuttle up and down the line. This armored train featured a number of Lewis guns in armored cars, and a fully armored locomotive. Believe it or not, this same train is credited with shooting down a number of german ju88 bombers, the odd HE 111 bomber, and at least one BF109. The BF109 was reportedly a maneuver kill, when the German pilot (he survived this, and would later testify as to what happened) mistook the train for a full size armored train and attempted to strafe it. However since it was a miniature train, he misjudged his altitude and flew into some trees before pancaking his plane in a field.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Wow, what a great story, thanks for sharing it 👍🏻

That's so kind of you to spend your time at the museum giving kids knowledge and stories they'll carry on forever. It took a lot of bright minds and hard work to prepare for those D day landings.

This is a really interesting talk, thankyou. When my husband and I were touring Scotland in a motorhome, one site advert really appealed to us with its promise of a quiet seaside site in a very quiet village, views from site over the harbour and walks along the coast. It was all it promised, but turned out it hadn't always been quiet. This tiny village was Garlieston, where the Mulberry harbors were tested. Very interesting boards up along the harbour telling the story of this little village in wartime.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Wow, how lovely 👍🏻

When we were growing up near Chicago, our mother, who had been a child during WWII, told us so many stories about the courage and sacrifice that the allied nations experienced. Our history program at school was rubbish, but because she was such a history geek herself, she was able to fill in the gaps quite nicely. But I never knew there were phantom armies! That was ingenious! How I wish she could see your videos now; I think she'd have loved your delivery and your story-telling prowess.

@thehistorysquad

11 ай бұрын

How lovely, that's very sweet, thanks 👍

Your are awwesome. What a story. I was at the edge of my chair and practically fell off listening to the last story about the kids looking for cool words. Poor guy that got caught in the middle. I hope no harm came to him.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

No, Leonard was fine, if a little shook up by his experience. Imagine it eh? 👍🏻

Gosh I had no idea this much went into the disguise and operation pre d-day. I always love hearing about d-day. Or playing games that have you start out on d-day. Or the movies alone are great. I got a book “sand and steel” recently on d-day and the preparations, I hope to read it one day. I can’t wait to hear more on d-day!

@Campfire_Bandit

Жыл бұрын

I agree!

@eldorados_lost_searcher

Жыл бұрын

There's also a lot of deception in the North Africa campaign, if you get a chance to look into it. Everything from disguising tanks as trucks, trucks as tanks, fuel and water pipelines as decoys, to hiring a magician to hide planes.

I like to look at the lists of the phantom units and use those very designations in my wargames. This year, my D-Day game will feature the men of the 521st Parachute Infantry Regiment, who were made to appear as if they were preparing for a drop behind the XXXVII Corps beachheads at Pas de Calais. Good stuff! I had not heard many of the details regarding the Daily Telegraph crossword. Thanks for this!

A friend of mine was in the Royal Marines and landed on June 6th. He freely admits he didn’t think he would make the beach, with colleagues dying all around him. Happily, he did make it and has just celebrated his 100th birthday (and yes card from the King)

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Wow, how wonderful Steve, just brilliant 👍🏻

@TheEarthistheLords

Жыл бұрын

❤

The story of how the filled jerrycans were moved inland and the empties taken back is also interesting. One-way roads running parallel, drivers pausing for only minutes to eat and refuel their vehicles, which vehicles got prioritized. Mundane but important.

@Lassisvulgaris

Жыл бұрын

I can recommend the movie "Red Ball Express" from 1952.....

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

I remember that movie 👍🏻

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Indeed, I remember seeing a photograph of soldiers filling the cans from taps all along pluto at the distribution centre but sadly couldn't find it to use in the film. 👍🏻

Oh dear, the thought about a bunch of boys ruining the work of thousands of men is equally amusing and terrifying. My mother always said that even the tiniest pot had the biggest ears, children are like parrots, they repeat everything they hear, for better or for worse. Thank you for this great video, your skills in storytelling is amazing mr. Hicks

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks 👍🏻

The incredible logistics and organizations of D-Day seems even more exciting than actual combat. The crossword spy story was also an exciting and funny anecdote.

Great video! I would call my Dad (late) an Anglophile, and I call myself one, too. (Georgia, USA). The British forces accomplished so much with their homeland itself under attack. Dad read “The Man Who Never Was,” and told me about all the incredible detail that went into making the unfortunate man appear like a genuine accidental drowning, and the Nazis completely fell for it. My eternal thanks to all who worked, risked, and sacrificed to rid the world of that evil regime!

Im Proud to say my Grandfather was there for the United States Navy, served 3 invasions as a mechanic and Coxwain on a LCVP Higgins boat at Normandy. He didnt like to speak of his experience but we knew much was put away and never brought out for his own reasons. Greatest generation Men of the time were like rocks. Thank-you for your service sir. Cheers from Ohio.🇺🇸

@thehistorysquad

11 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍🏻. The crews on the Higgings boats saw so much horror as the ramp was lowered, it's beyond our imagination. But I've spoken to a British Coxswain who was landing US troops onto Omaha and he explained how he was delivering live cargo that was dead a few seconds later. We were both in a combat stress hospital at the time. His scars had lasted him 60 odd years bless him.

Thank you again for this highly informative video! Training for D-Day went not so well for the Allies. The preperations for the invading forces led to a disastrous incident of friendly fire on the 27th of April 1944 (-> Exercise Tiger). The Allied command wanted the soldiers to practice under realistic conditions and to expose them to real artillery fire. It was planned that ship artillery would shoot several real shells over the heads of the landing troops at a beach at Slapton Sands (Devonshire). Due to a delay to the bombardment and problems with the communication not all allied landing boats could be contacted in time so that the second wave of landing troops came under real fire. Estimated 450 soldiers were killed here. A few hours later in the night 4 german E-boats attacked some LST (Tank Landing Ship) at Lyme Bay sinking two of them and damaging two more. In total 749 american troops were killed. Both incidents were covered up until the 1970s.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Yes, another terrible mistake that cost lives.

Another great presentation, Kevin! Always spot on! One of my professors was an MP sergeant for Patton in North Africa and England. He helped guard the “supplies” and deception vehicles for the Ghost Army. Everyone knew something big was up. But the sense of adventure evaporated when the came across a supply camp of over 100,000 wooden coffins. Their mouths went dry. An American officer was put in charge of testing the life vests (Mae Wests) to insure they would enable a trooper to float in case he fell into deep water. “Sure! It works!” was his report. This brain dead idiot never put on his combat gear, just his boots and uniform. Thus, hundreds drowned. That officer’s name was never published, in order to save his life. My hat’s off tho the royal Engineers for constructing the Mulberries. Magnificent! Cheers!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Cheers Allen and another great comment from you. I'd only heard vaguely of the officer & the Mae Wests - unbelievable 👍🏻

D-Day was the Anglo-Saxons' greatest logistical achievement. As a student of history, I have never heard about the crossword. Thank You for another Fantastic, very informative video.

The miniature collector in me kept wanting to shout “YOU’RE MAKING FINGERPRINTS ON THE PLEXIGLASS!!”

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

🤣

@Lassisvulgaris

Жыл бұрын

What?! An ex policeman leaving fingerprints...?

My dad landed there 7 days later. He was part of an army unit that built heavy runways. He was 19 at the time. Thanks Kevin great video. 👍👍👍👍👍🍻

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Wow, my pleasure 👍🏻

Even in the Middle Ages, when William the Bastard landed in England from Normandy, he had prepared for enormous logistics and supplies. Among other things, he had several prefabricated, dismountable wooden Motte-and-Bailey castles brought from Normandy and set up in England. That was also very remarkable, especially for that time.

You aren’t wrong! The logistics of it all is absolutely mind boggling. The part that gets me is the inflatable battalion, it actually worked lol . How crazy is that.

Stories around this subject always bring a lump to my throat. Many thanks for upload.

Great wee story Kevin,as I was reminded once the French population close to the landings suffered greatly as they had since the Nazis occupied France,but also throughout France during the Normandy invasion,the amount of remembrances in 1944 is astounding,the French paid a colossal price which sometimes can be overlooked❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇫🇷

My dad missed out on D-day, he was one of the infamous D-day dodgers. They had fought all the was across the desert, into Italy and on the 5th of June 1944 entered Rome. Of course because of D-day the newspapers never mentioned it

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Indeed 👍🏻. While your grandad was entering Rome, my grandfather was fighting his way up the eastern side of Italy.

I like the anecdote about Lord Lovat being piped ashore by his personal piper as he led his Commandos onto Sword beach. A real character

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Yes indeed 👍🏻

Hot topic! This is gonna be a good one! My grandfather was drafted with around 16 into the Wehrmacht. They sent him to France to defend against the allied forces. My understanding is that it didn't take long for his unit to be overwhelmed, at which point he became a PoW in France. He met my grandmother there and they became a pair. He barely spent three years in a war he didn't understand or really support and it scarred him for life! After that he got to make a living with his own bakery and became a valued member of his local community. Had he lived to this day, he'd be pushing the 100 years now. There, make of it what you will. I just wanted to share his story. Peace rocks!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

How lovely Patrick, thank you for sharing your story. 👍🏻

every single video, I always say hi back to Kevin

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Haha, well thanks Morgan - 'Hi!' 😃

Good video Kevin. A little less than a year later we pulled off a D-day sized landing on Okinawa but did it at a 1200 nautical mile remove. Lots of good lessons learned from D-day and previous landings.

@thehistorysquad

9 ай бұрын

Cheers Harry 👍🏻

The logistics of this and many other war time events just amazes me.

The logistics for an operation like Overlord are mind boggling!

All ways loved the longest day film. 😊 And I recall somewhere in my mind a US General telling everyone in a hotel about D Day and he was reported and then was sent back to the USA.

Grand of Kevin to allow some amateur hobbyist modeling into the channel! The museum display is well charming enough though, even compared to our more urbane Hicks modeling!!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

🤣 nice one Rob 👍🏻

“Careless talk costs lives”- indeed Kevin, thank you again for a lovely, informative video while I am recovering 😊

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure Lisa, keep well 👍🏻

And after the crossword debacle, I think that's when you started seeing posters every where, "The walls have eyes and ears." and "Loose lips sink ships."

Always love this particular story of history

Another great video Kevin. Went on a battlefield tour to Normandy for my 40th birthday. It was both stunning and moving at the same time! I thought of how many lads never came back, not even reaching half my age. Then for my 50th, went to Bletchley Park. Fascinating place and great to visit somewhere in this country that was secret for so long. Have you been there?

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Yes Tim I have, as you say, quite fascinating 👍🏻

That is probably one of the best videos. Just shows you can't trust a Yank to keep his gob shut...

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

😜

It's something of a miracle that D-day didn't end up becoming one of the worst military disasters in recorded history.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

.....fortunately for us the German's GOC was Adolf Hitler, he made some terrible decisions.

Brilliant video Kevin. My wife and I just returned home to Ottawa after a two week vacation in Wexford, Ireland. One of the places we visited was Curracloe Beach. This beach was used in the movie “Saving Private Ryan” as the filming location for the Omaha Beach landing.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Cool 👍🏻

Your passion excites your audience and is contagious

Well, speaking of " coincidence", Kevin. I first read about this intriguing crossword puzzle and the clues, years ago. In the exact same book where I had read about the ' Mary Celeste "( which you also covered and I commented on). This was another excellent video,as always, Kevin!! Please keep up the fascinating work!! Best regards, from the other side of the pond! Have a great day, mate.

@thehistorysquad

9 ай бұрын

Cheers Robyn, will do.

I had never heard that great story. My grandfather was a soldier in a glider with the 82nd Airborne. He was critically wounded after crash landing, being shot by a German MG 44. He spent 2 years in a Army hospital on the east coast. He was a bitter man, and racist but also philanthropic and generous... it was always hard for me to wrap my head around why he acted the way he did. He walked with a heavy limp and the bullet was never removed from his hip. He Never talked about the war. I discovered his story snooping around through his stuff. I think his whole anger lied in what he wasn't able to ever do, and he was a very accomplished man. He didn't get the chance to fight in the war cause he was wounded so quickly and I think he had a hang up or some embarrassment issues surrounding this event. I still don't really know and he's dead. Ask your family all your questions before it's too late. Rip Jack Gibbons of San Francisco.

@thehistorysquad

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment Jack 👍🏻

Good video! I had heard about the crossword puzzle incident, but never that the words had been overheard by the children from American GI’s.

Well, Sir. If my high school principal and some of my teachers then had been hauled away by security services for whatever reason, we would have raised more than three cheers. Thank you for this. There was a book in the 70s that featured this story. I think it was called The Untold Stories of DDay.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Wow, I bet that was a good book 👍🏻

Brilliant. Bloody BRILLIANT. We love The History Squad!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

😂 Cheers buddies 👍🏻

I really did enjoy the puzzle story Kev and thanks for all.

I got the chance to interview a sailor who survived Pearl Harbor and the pacific. I had planned to interview someone about the Normandy invasion but sadly the gentleman passed before the interview. WW2 has always been fascinating to me. So many variables, armies and plots. One little thing could change and the whole war would change. Absolutely amazing time period and so many advances we don’t even think about today that changed the world at that time.

Hey while you're there. You could visit the town of Asquith. It's the center of the Empire, apparently.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Just had to look it up, but it's not far west of Saskatoon 👍🏻

Brilliant history talk and stories sir!

Remarkable and amazing! Thank you.

going thru a backlog of all the videos, listening to this i rememberd TimeGhostArmy's videos of the landings, boogles my brain how much effort was put into the deception alone. great video as always Kevin

@thehistorysquad

10 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍🏻

Good one on Pluto . The most important and unknown facts of the war.

Great video as always

Fan from Minnesota here! I enjoy the English history, but always enjoy your content no matter the topic. Great presentation and information always. Well done Kev!!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Cheers mate, I appreciate that. I've performed at the Mall of America for a tourism expo, and it was on 9/11 I was asked to go on stage. I'll tell the story of that here one day 👍🏻

This channel…. IS LEGENDARY

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

Sir, you look dapper 😊 Cheers for what you do

Brilliant story telling Kev

I am straight up addicted to your videos!! Thank you for putting in the work! Cheers from Texas!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks buddy. I really appreciate your time 👍🏻

I get a big kick out of how Patton’s ghost army kept the Germans looking in the wrong place. Amazing how they really feared him!

You never disappoint. I never knew about the crosswords clues explanation. It makes sense now!

Thankyou for bringing the solution to that puzzle to my attention... it'd perplexed me for a few decades. :)

I am a 57 years old german and I am glad that this operation succeded. Thanks to all the Heroes who stoppt the nazi terror and the war. Thanks to Kevin to remind is.

@thehistorysquad

8 күн бұрын

Thanks. You might like to watch my German War Cemetery video 👍.

Thank you! From Goodrich Castle to D Day - all remarkably described. Thank you and best wishes, George

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure George, thanks for watching 👍🏻

Wow!!! Crossword puzzle, never heard of this story. Well done for bringing this up😃

Thank you for covering this fateful day. I’m a D Day fanatic. Lately been looking at the Canadian role. They suffered huge casualties. Your history videos are gems. Keep up the good work, we love them!

Great lesson Kevin! Thanks for a great history squad episode!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Absolutely fascinating Kevin, that really displayed the magnitude of the invasion. And never before had I heard about the crossword incident. Thank you for a wonderful video 🙏

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure, thanks for watching Nick.

Thanks Kev, i really love your take on these History moments

@thehistorysquad

4 ай бұрын

Cheers Steve 👍

Brilliantly told! As usual, I should add. Thanks once more Kevin!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure! 👍🏻

Some deadly crossword puzzles at play! Not surprised the soldiers were using the key words so freely. Great video!

It would be fun to hear you talk on the British(&American celebrities who served) some famous before the war like David Niven. And some famous after like Christopher Lee.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

I love the fact that some of the great classic actors were frontline servicemen 👍🏻

Boy I am glad I found your channel. Great stuff! You remind me of a history teacher I had in high school, sparked in me a passion for learning history. Thank you!

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Hi there, thanks and welcome to the channel, I hope you enjoy catching up on some of our older stuff. 👍🏻

I had never heard of PLUTO before or about the crosswords. Thanks for all your teaching. You’re great and I always look forward to your videos.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Cheers, my pleasure 👍🏻

Interesting! As always!

Great video. Love studying World War I and World War II.

Brilliant video. Also, the British, Free French and Norwegian troops landed on Juno Beech.

Boy so organised fantastic planning in this kev

The movie with Benedict Cumberbatch was amazing!

Great story!

You and models, my man lol. I haven’t even started the video that much, but I just wanted to say I’m excited to hear what you have to say. On this topic I love learning from you man like I already know tons of the information used to tell me, however you give me new information on these topics and it’s always fun to hear it in your fun way of teaching.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Hi there, I hope you got to the end and enjoyed it. A fascinating story that crossword eh? Just one of thousands of stories I bet 👍🏻

@Key212

Жыл бұрын

@@thehistorysquad yeah I think it’s crazy that just some kids heard the soldiers talking about it that much I think it’s funny that all the soldiers knew the name of the operation in the first place sometimes they’re not even told in modern times. I feel like it’s dangerous to let that many soldiers know the name of some secret operation because obviously the word got out.

As always Kevin nails it! Great video.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Thanks again!

That is wild about the soldiers and school kids. I’m sure MI5 was in absolute overdrive and you would never believe that story in a million years at such a critical time. Great video. Thanks Kevin 👍

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure Sam 👍🏻

"Loose lips sink ships" as the saying go, you can never under estimate how good at listening and picking things up children are. My grandfather was little too young to join up till the every end of the second world war and being a farmer he was also in an exempt profession. He did eventually join the navy, I have a picture of him in his uniform, and after training he was in Hawaii on the very last ship about to go to the Pacific Theatre when, just before they launched, they got a call from HQ telling them that the war was over and to go home.

Love it.

Brilliant as every ❤

What an amazing diarama!

Kevin: Enjoyable and informative video, first time I heard about the students. The diorama is a fine collection of Hobart's Funnies. Keep up the good work.

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Well noticed Dave 👍🏻

Once again, you've taught me about things I had never heard of, such as PLUTO. You might find another good WWII subject in the story of Jasper Maskelyne, a magician who enlisted in the Royal Engineers. I won't spoil it for you, but I think you will find it to be a fascinating yarn. =^[.]^=

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

Ooh sounds intriguing, I'll take a look, thanks 👍🏻

deception. the inflatable tanks trucks and planes really impressed me. thank yew kevin

1 Across. Eloquent archer adds another string to his bow (5)

@thehistorysquad

Жыл бұрын

😂