Today, on the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, we at Traction Wars choose to honour the memory of those who fell to help liberate Europe and the lesser known contingents of the D-day Landings who were no less important to history.
The Royal Australian Army had left the European theatre of operations in 1942 and 43 to fully commit to the Pacific Theater, however some units remained behind in England to carry out support for the D-Day Landings. Most of the 3000 Australians consisted of air crew and naval personnel, who helped in major support roles to the landings. 13 Australian officers also took part in the landings as observers and attaches, fighting through the campaign before returning to Australia to help support staff and operational studies. In total around 1,177 Australian soldiers were killed before, during, and after D-Day, higher than the number lost in the same time during fighting in the Pacific.
Members of No 196 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who towed gliders in the airbourne operation during Overlord.
While the Australian Air Force covered the landings, 70 years ago today, at 5:35 GMT HNoMS Svenner of the Norwegian Navy in Exile was guarding the British landings at Sword Beach when she came under attack by a German Torpedo Boat Squadron in one of the few German naval sorties against the landings. In the process of fighting them off she was hit by two torpedoes amidships and snapped in two. 32 Norwegian and 1 British sailor died in the sinking. HNoMS Svenner was the only Allied ship to be lost on D-Day.
HNoMS Svenner breaking up & sinking after being struck by two torpedoes
So today, when you raise a glass to the memory of the Normandy Invasion tonight, do try to remember not just the British, Commonwealth, French, Polish and United States soldiers, sailors and airmen but also the 32 Norwegians who, so far from home, gave their lives to protect the transports.
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Well done chaps :)