Description
With the beachhead firmly held, smoke rises from the continuing battle inland as units of the British 51st (Highland) Division land at Sword Beach on D-Day +1. As they head for the crowded shore, where LCTs are now hard at work disembarking armored reinforcements, the infantry gaze skywards as Halifax bombers from 346 (Free French) Squadron thunder overhead on their way to pound German positions along the front line.
Simon Smith’s work – skillfully crafted in a combination of traditional painting and digital creation – is a moving tribute to the men who fought in the invasion of Normandy paving the way for the Allied liberation of occupied Europe.
THE SIGNATURES
Released in 2014 this print is autographed by Fifteen veterans who participated in D-Day and the Normandy invasion.
Gunner JOHN AINSWORTH – 10th Survey Regiment, landed on Juno Beach D+7
Craftsman DOUG AUSTIN – Scots Guards, 6th Tank Brigade landed his Churchill Tank at Sword Beach on D-Day
Corporal GORDON DRABBLE – 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division, landed at Gold Beach D+3
Corporal PATRICK STRAFFORD – D Company, 14th Kings Own Light Infantry, landed on Sword Beach on D-Day
Trooper DON WALKER – Royal Armoured Corps, landed his Churchill Tanks on Gold Beach on D-Day, taken POW
Lieutenant FRANK YATES – Royal Artillery, 53rd Welsh Infantry Division landed shortly after D-Day
Able Seaman NICK RUMBLE – Merchant Navy Gunner fired on German positions on D-Day
Private CLIFF DALTON – 318 Company RASC, landed on Gold Beach as a reinforcement after D-Day
Warrant Officer ERNIE PATTERSON DFM – Wop/AG on Lancasters with 635 Sqn
Warrant Officer KEN JOHNSON – Mid-Upper Gunner on Lancasters with 9 & 61 Sqns
Warrant Officer ERIC VARNEY – Mid-Upper Gunner on Lancasters with 207 Sqn
Warrant Officer TOM CARTER – Flew Typhoons with 263 Sqn on ground attack missions throughout Normandy
Signaller FRANK BAUGH – landed his Landing Craft on Sword Beach at 7.25am on D-Day
Private CYRIL ELLIOTT – Royal Army Service Corps landed on Gold Beach, D+2
Private CHARLIE HILL – 6th Battalion Green Howards, landed in the first wave on Gold Beach on D-Day
THE MULTI-SIGNED EDITION
We have just a few copies which are signed by an additional six Aircrew who flew during D-Day and Normandy, to create a Twenty-one signature print:
Squadron Leader ‘BLUEY’ MOTTERSHEAD DFC MBE – Pilot on Halifaxes with 158 Sqn
Flying Officer RAY WORRALL – Flight Engineer on Lancasters with 44 Sqn
Wing Commander JIM WRIGHT DFC – Navigator on Lancasters with 97 Sqn (Pathfinders) over Normandy
Warrant Officer RON BROWN – Flight Engineer on Stirlings with 218 Sqn, he towed a glider into Normandy on D-Day.
Warrant Officer DICK HARRISON – Flight Engineer on Wellingtons with 70 Sqn
Flying Officer RALPH WILD – Battle of Britain ground crew and then a Navigator on Halifaxes with 249 Sqn
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