Last Thursday (June 6) the people of Bude paid their respects and gratitude to those who took part in the D-Day landings 75 years ago in a moving ceremony.

With the flags of the nations who took part in Operation Overlord, the codename for the Battle of Normandy, flying around the town and from a flagpole on the Downs, inevitably the focus of their remembrance was a memorial to the 29th Ranger Batallion from the United Sates led by Col James Rudder who on December 3, 1943 arrived in Bude, were billeted in people’s homes and became their adopted sons.

The impact of these young men was great and they are still remembered with fondness.

They trained and honed their battle skills on local beaches and cliffs in readiness for their assault on the notorious Pointe du Hoc behind Omaha Beach where 75% of them were killed, yet they managed to capture the formidable German coastal batteries.

The day began early when 650 white crosses, kindly provided by Bott Ltd of Bude, were planted by local people including children on Shalder Hill overlooking The Strand in memory of the 650 men from the Sixth Airborne Division who lost their lives.

They were in position at 6.25 am, at precisely the same time when lone piper Major Trevor Macey-Lillie of the 19th Regiment Royal Artillery marked the moment the first British soldier landed in Normandy.

By 10.45 a sizeable crowd had assembled at the Rangers’ stone on the Downs where a short memorial service on was led by Deacon Debbie Marsh. Among them was leading seaman George Goode aged 94 who, having served in North Africa, took part in the Allies invasion of Sicily in 1943, and 86-year-old Brian Woolcott who has good reason to be grateful to the Rangers.

Two of them were billeted in his home when as a ten-year-old he fell ill with double pneumonia and when Colonel Rudder heard about it he provided medication which aided his recovery.

Mr Woolcott read a letter from the colonel’s daughter thanking the people of Bude for their kindness which had helped them in their mission.

Invited by Deacon Debbie to ‘remember those who have gone before’ wreaths were laid on behalf of the Royal British Legion, Bude and Stratton Town Council, Bude Primary School, the Royal Air Force Association, the Rangers and the Bude Cadet Force.

After Bill Stroudley had recited the traditional ‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old’ the Last Post was played by Paul Aslett of Metric Brass and a minute’s silence observed followed by the Reveillee and ‘For your tomorrow, we gave our today.’

Then Elizabeth Hobbs, dressed in military uniform, stepped forward to sing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Pie Jesu’.

The ceremony ended with Deacon Debbie reading prayers including a one broadcast by President Franklin D Roosevelt on the evening of June 6 1944. ‘Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.’ The ceremony, which will live long in the memories of those who attended, concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.