Op "Dragoon" 60th Anniversary celebrations, South of France August 2004.

[atcase]

Hi Ade,
thanks for yet another great thread i am sure the presence of your group must really add to the enjoyment of this type of celebration for the vets and local people (as much as the vets enhance the celebrations for you ) you are all true ambassadors for the world of militaria congrats.
Ashley

[Chet Sowersby]

Ade,
Thanks again for yet another outstanding photo journey!

Chet

[Rick Research]

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[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Rick, it is Greek, the "War Medal 1941 - 1945" and was awarded to the Vets for service in Greece in late 1944. See here for details:

http://users.skynet.be/hendrik/eng/39greece.html

All the Vets tell me it was a very sad campaign. The British forces were welcomed as liberators and friends by the local partizan groups who had started to take charge as the Germans had left. (I have some scans of photos from Mike Compton showing his unit with the partizans who wear an interesting mix of uniforms.) Relations were very friendly at first, but then fighting broke out between the two rival Greek factions and the British backed the Nationalists. Greece was under the British area of influence as agreed by FDR and Churchill & Stalin The Communist ELAS forces, who were the bigger and better organised group, then fought the British as well as their own countrymen. The 2nd Indep. Para brigade lost more men in this short campaign than for all the months they fought in Italy as line infantry. The fighting was house to house in Athens. The Vets tell me that women and children were used as human sheilds, etc.

If anyone knows of where the Vets can obtain extra ribbon for this decoration please drop me a line? Our group has looked into having some made for them, but the quantity was prohibitive.

Cheers, Ade.

[Edelweiss]

Happy to see you had a great time Ade ; and nice to see how our southern sun turns so easilly the brits into lobsters !

Wonderful commemorations, I'm always happy to see the Vets thanked this way ; thanks for all the pics. Et rendez-vous la prochaine fois Ade, I'll try to have more time, I promise !
Send a couple of kisses to Lez, OK ?

[Peter Moelans]

Late post:

Nice, it seems that good ol' Musée de La libération hasn't changed a bit since I last visited it (two years ago). Did you also visit the Wiederstandsnest of Pointe de l'observatoire and the Loraine cross of Pointe de l'Esquillon, in remembrance of the French marines who fell there (both are on the coastline between St-Raphaël and Cannes)?

Allways a pleasure to visit the Provence!
(Don't forget the french marines museum in Fréjus and the artillery museum in Draguignan, etc.....)

[Si1964]

Ade,

Work has been a real SOB hence my late addition to this thread and no show in Arnham ......

Anyway, by the time you read this you'll be back from there and giving us another great thread.

By the way glad to see those shirts came in handy

[jimuk]

Hi Ade-
The photos you posted are extremely interesting. I was present as well during the celebrations, but due to all the security and what not, was unable to meet any of the British Para Veterans apart from a few I met in the Pagasus bridge museum.
I would like to add here, with respect to the Greek Medal, that this is the post 1982 version where the crown has been replaced by the Greek national coat of arms (a simple cross). The Greek Civil War was indeed a tragedy and inflicted serious casualties on both sides. Numerous atrocities were also committed, especially in the mountainside. I wish I had managed to meet the veterans of the 2nd Ind. Para. brigade that had come to Greece, but unfortunately, as I have already mentioned, a series of misfortunes did not permit me to do so.
I would gladly try and locate some ribbon for the medals if you would be as kind to tell me how much you are looking for. I have managed to obtain some in the past for a few Crete veterans that had asked me for it, so I hope it should not be a problem. Simply let me know. All the best


JimUK

[Elvis]

It makes me real happy to see those ol' fellas out there with all those people appreciating them. At the same time though it makes me think of those poor German vets that really get no credit for what they were doing for their country.

[Tom M]

I can't believe I missed this thread. Those vets really did us proud,and what a great occassion. Will there be a 65th or 70th I wonder? I will be there if there are. Great photo gallery Ade and hats of to the men of valour.

[Les Brock]

Adrian,

Good to see you had a great tour,

Great to see so many Vets as well !

Nice to see some 509th Kit and the real deal as well ! I think we're some if not the only group to do that impression, Pity really as they deserve much more recognition than they get. (as do many other units !)

Saw the "boys" up at Twinwood today !

And did Tim manage to stop drooling at all that Pack Howitser stuff ?

Regards

Les


First Allied Airborne Accociation


Oh and first post as well , Hi everyone, good to be here

[Greg Sebring]

Les,

Greetings from acrossed the pond and welcome aboard. You can get lost here for hours.

Greg

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Les, glad to see you have joined here. Sorry I cannot put a face to your name but I must know you by sight from Twinwoods, etc. I thought that your group might enjoy this thread. Well worth the trip perhaps you will make it next year?


Tim was glued to the Museum looking at the Pack How stuff, plus it was staffed by a very pretty French girl too

Cheers, Ade.

[Peter Wiking]

Thanks.

Peter Wiking

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

Can't believe I missed this one! LOL!

Great stuff Ade and as always, very interesting!