Tag Archives: memory

World War II History In The Fields of Norfolk

It’s always a bit stunning to realise how much history has unfolded over the centuries in the UK within eyesight of what now appears to be a ‘normal’ village or town.

We have driven by this particular object for year after year and I always meant to go back and take a picture of it — but I only got around to doing it within this past week. It was a direct follow-on from a visit to an old World War II airfield that is now the museum dedicated to the 100th Bomber Group. And both the museum and this structure are less than a 5 minute drive down the road from my husband’s parents’ home in Norfolk.

As you can see, this machine gun emplacement on the edge of Dickleburgh is standing in a field that has just been plowed for Spring planting.

Nothing like a bit of of history sitting in a field that you pass every day to nudge your memory into recalling what went on there a mere 75 years ago.

 

Machine gun emplacement from World War II sitting in a rural Norfolk field


 

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A Thought-Provoking Museum in Normandy, France

The full-sized airplane hanging from the ceiling was an unexpected surprise in a place entitled the Caen Peace Memorial, but that was indeed the first thing that we saw as we entered the spacious entrance lobby.

This World War II plane, along with several tanks in one wing of the museum, are amongst the sprinkling of ‘hardware’ that accompany the more thought-provoking displays. This is a serious history museum and one that needs to be explored slowly. We hadn’t realised quite how comprehensive the before, during, between, and after the world wars examination would be.
 

World War II air power overhead at the Caen Peace Memorial museum in Normandy, France


 

It’s hard to conceive of how fraught with anxiety every day to day activity would have been under the German occupation or with bombs dropping on your home or workplace. We can try to imagine it fully, but that state of imagining would be simply inadequate.
 

Passing from zone to zone during wartime must have been quite unnerving.


 

There is nothing playful about this museum, but you will certainly leave here with a greater understanding of the social and political factors that led to both of the World Wars in Europe.

There is a decent cafe and a quite a nice bookstore and gift shop within the museum, so there is probably something for everyone. I highly recommend a full day out here.
 

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©Deborah Harmes and ©A Wanderful Life
Please respect the words and images on this page.
All rights reserved.