Monthly Archives: November 2011

Vintage World War II Poster: Do The Job

A simple and gorgeous World War II poster recruiting women to enter the work force and do the jobs that the men had left behind when they went off to fight the war overseas.

This is on display at the Caen Memorial Museum in Normandy, France.
 

Vintage World War II poster recruiting women into the factories


 
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Petite Chapelle Dans Les Bois – Little Chapel In The Woods Memorial

Abruptly turning the steering wheel, he directed the van along an ever-climbing and sharply twisting road until we arrived at the top and I saw the sign. Mark had decided to surprise me with a visit to La Petite Chapelle (the little chapel) perched high on an overlook above Mortain in Normandy, France.
 

Walking down the gravel path through tall trees toward the Petite Chapelle in Mortain, Normandy, France


 
Walking down a gravel path through the fragrant pines, we reached the tiny stone chapel, built in the late 1700s and then reconstructed in the 1850s, which is now dedicated to the American forces who lost their lives defending this strategic position from the advancing German troops and tanks during World War II.
 

La Petite Chapelle perched high atop Mortain, Normandy, France


 
Two marble memorial plaques stand in commemoration of their sacrifice.
 

Monument to the 30th Infantry in the woods outside the Petite Chapelle in Mortain, Normandy, France


 

Small memorial slab commemorating the participation of the 35th Infantry at the Battle of Mortain


 
The 30th Infantry is particularly highlighted and honoured for their role in the staggeringly intense Battle of Mortain as related in this historical report.

When you pass through the outcropping of boulders that snug the sides of the tiny chapel and venture out to the back, a steep set of stone stairs is set into that shallow bit of remaining land behind the chapel and those stairs lead to a viewing platform.
 

Twisty stone stairs leading to viewing platform behind the Petite Chapelle in Mortain, Normandy, France


 
The chapel itself is perched rather close to the end of the summit and you only realise that when you stand on the viewing platform and look back.
 

Back of the Petite Chapelle in Mortain, Normandy, France from the viewing platform


 
As long as you are not afraid of heights, the view from the top is breathtaking. On a clear day you are able to see for miles around including the seacoast beyond and Mont St. Michel in the distance. It’s obvious from the panoramic view that the American forces which were holding this position knew how vital it was to keep this high ground so that they could not only see any German troops on the way, they could maintain an ability to rain their weapons fire down onto the Germans who were struggling up the steep terrain.
 

A clear view for miles all around from atop the Petite Chapelle lookout in Mortain, Normandy, France


 
Today the land around the chapel in the woods is a silent place, a peaceful place — but still filled with memories and echoes of the past.
 

Entry to La Petite Chapelle perched high atop Mortain in Normandy, France


 

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Signs Of The Past

65 years may have passed in Normandy in northern France, but the physical signs — whether bullet scarred buildings or actual road signs — still exist to remind the world that this was one of the most ferocious battlegrounds of World War II.
 

Bullet pocked roadsign for Caen, Normandy leftover from the World War II battles in France


 

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Photo Of The Day: Make Every Minute Count

There doesn’t need to be a war on for this phrase to have meaning in all of our lives — “Make Every Minute Count.”

This was one of several striking vintage posters on display in Caen in Normandy, France at the Memorial Museum.

Make Every Minute Count poster from WW II at the Caen Memorial Museum in Normandy, France

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Beautiful Bayeux Cathedral

The spires thrust high into the skies over Normandy — asserting themselves proudly over the smaller stone or timber and plaster buildings all around. There are far too many ancient cathedrals and churches to count in France, but this one had a special air about it that broadcast its importance.
 

Bayeux Cathedral -- Notre Dame de Bayeux exterior


 

Ornate roofline and spires of the Bayeux Cathedral


 
The historic Bayeux Cathedral in Normandy, France is such a beautiful building and has such a wonderful atmosphere that I thought it deserved a separate photo essay of its own. This was the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry, now housed in a separate museum a mere few blocks from the cathedral. It was consecrated by William the Conqueror, also known as William, Duke of Normandy and King of England, on the 14th of July 1077 — a mere 11 years after the Norman conquest of England.
 

Heavily detailed exterior of the Bayeux Cathedral


 
This 11th-13th century masterpiece of architecture is astonishingly light and airy inside due to the number of windows which punctuate the deep stone walls. The ornamentation is simply beautiful, so I have included several photos of interesting details.
 

Interior of the Bayeux Cathedral


 

Quatrefoil detail in stone inside the Bayeux Cathedral


 

Ornate details on interior of Bayeux Cathedral


 

The Dragonslayer in a side chapel at the Bayeux Cathedral


 
The crypts have an energy all their own which is quite different from the hustle and bustle of the ‘upstairs’ main church. But occasionally when there are other people down in the crypts, some rather annoyingly ignoring the signs indicating that NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY is to be used, you simply have to wait for a few minutes for the clattering and shuffling in and out to cease.
 

Entry to the crypt from the side aisle of the Bayeux Cathedral


 

Frescos on arches in the crypt of the Bayeux Cathedral


 

Angel fresco on top of a column in the crypt of the Bayeux Cathedral


 
Then, in that tiny space of a moment or two, you can feel the energy shift back to an interesting state of otherworldliness and even the sound of your breath looms large. This is a very popular tourist site, even out of season, so you must purposefully snatch those moments of serenity whenever it is possible.
 

Mark absorbing the brief and fellow-tourist-free serenity of the crypt at Bayeux Cathedral


 
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Veterans Day — Remembrance Day

They call it Remembrance Day in Europe and the British Commonwealth countries. And they call it Veterans Day in the USA.

Today is the 11th day of the 11th month — and in this particular year, it’s the 11th year of the post 2000 marker.

I am writing this from a gite (cottage) in Normandy. In those dark days of the 1940s, a world war was being fought in the towns and fields all around us. The tangible signs of those battles still exist in the bullet holes that scar the face of stone buildings and the bits of bullets and shells that continue to be found to this day.

Whether now alive or gone from this mortal life, the men and women who serve their countries honourably deserve to be remembered for their sacrifices.

I am personally grateful that my own dear son came safely home from a war.
 

American Military Cemetary at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France


 
 
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Bayeux in France: The Tapestry and Beyond

Bayeux — another French town that bears the unfortunate description of ‘badly damaged by World War II bombing.’
 

Memorial to the 50th Northumbrian troops killed in and around Bayeux during World War II


 
But the real claim to fame is that it hosts the amazing Bayeux Tapestry. We’ve been looking forward to viewing this ever since our first visit to Normandy earlier in the year, so I was quite pleased that we managed to fit a day’s expedition to Bayeux into this particular multi-month stay in Normandy.

It’s a charming small town and, in contrast to the concrete bunker-ish appearance of the reconstructed St. Lo, this town has been rebuilt with sensitivity to historic style by using the traditional building material of stone.
 

Late autumn amongst the stone buildings of Bayeux in Normandy, France


 

A street in Bayeux in Normandy, France


 

Entry to the Moulin Restaurant in Bayeux, Normandy, France


 
We rambled down the cobblestone streets and decided to go see the beautiful Bayeux Cathedral (also called the Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux) that we had glimpsed peeking over the roofs of the surrounding buildings. This was the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry. It is a simply splendid cathedral and well worth a visit if you are in Bayeux to visit the famous tapestry. It’s a mere few blocks to walk from one site to another, so it’s quite easy to see both places if you only have a few hours to spend in the town. I’ll post a large selection of photos of the cathedral exterior, interior, and the wonderfully atmospheric crypt in a future article.
 

The lovely Notre Dame Cathedral in Bayeux, Normandy, France


 

We arrived at the museum, stood in a short line to gain entry (€7.60 each for admission), and then proceeded into the large display room. Every visitor is assigned a self-guided-tour device in their choice of language and that device auto-activates as you stand in front of each numbered section of the tapestry.
 

Museum containing the Bayeux Tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France


 
The Bayeax Tapestry isn’t actually a tapestry done in needlepoint at all! It is a rather vast embroidery done on a very long swath of linen.

Because of the age of the item and the need to protect the fragile 70 metre long fabric from the light, the display is in a darkened room and absolutely no photography is allowed. So I have no firsthand photos to show you. But you can click on the highlighted links above and below for more information.

What struck both of us was the almost comic-book like quality of this vast piece of embroidery that has survived invasions and world wars! In centuries past, the Bayeux Tapestry was exhibited once each year within the Bayeux Cathedral to show the citizens the history of the Norman Conquest of England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This marvelous piece was commissioned to be created quite shortly after the battle itself. We found it fascinating to look at and we had several laughs at the humour that was quite effectively portrayed in the embroidered illustrations.
 

Cartoon-like whispering courtiers behind the king as depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France.


 
As we left the museum, Mark remarked that it was a funny place to see the Emergency Room entrance to the local hospital — right across the narrow street from the tapestry museum.
 

Emergency entrance to the Bayeux Hospital directly across from the Bayeux Tapestry Museum


 
For a change of pace from the World War II history in Normandy, Bayeux is certainly a recommended spot for a day out.

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©Deborah Harmes and ©A Wanderful Life
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