The Long Mynd, Shropshire

The Long Mynd is a heath and moorland plateau that forms part of the Shropshire Hills.  Edwardians regarded the geography of the area as little Switzerland. I had never realised there were wild horses on the moorland and at one point I thought I was going to be charged at by a mare when trying to take photographs of the foals.  Thank you Juliana for looking out for me!

 

 

 

 

Ladybird / Ladybug

There is nothing like having a Zoologist on hand to identify what I thought was a pest on the apple trees. Ann soon put me straight showing me the Ladybird life-cycle which was such fun photographing. I had told Ann my shots were not sharp and that my photography was regressing.  Well, as true as that may be, after testing lenses and extension tubes on Ann's camera, we did discover that there is something wrong with my camera body.  Thank you Ann and Fixation help!

 

Stipperstones and Lyth Hill with Ann

It was a scenic route to the Stipperstones, a National Nature Reserve, with the curtesy of the SatNav.  This hill is noted for its tors of quartzite formed some 480 million years ago.  We had a shorter route home, even with detour up a lane to see Lyth Hill's panorama.  There is a view towards Caer Caradoc that overlooks Church Stretton where Ann was headed the next day. I returned to Lyth Hill after Ann left and watched a rainstorm develop.

 

 

 

Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

I am very proud of my Uncle Patrick Thomas who has been recognised and awarded the Ordre National de la Légion d'honneur.  Aged nineteen he was part of the D-day invasion 6 June 1944 and at 06:30 his landing craft LHC 185 put twenty naval commandos ashore at Lion sur Mer (east of Sword beach) as part of operation Neptune. The landing craft remained in the vicinity for nineteen days and was key in wireless communications between the forces on the shore and the ships at sea. One of the telegraphers was deployed to the shore as part of the wireless communication operations, not an enviable place to be so I am told. Patrick said it was a matter of drawing short straws when deciding who would go.

On 25 June 1944 at 13:00 the landing craft was hit by an acoustic mine and overturned and sunk in a very short time. Patrick was one of ten survivors, those who perished were below deck and had no time to get out.  He found himself underwater as the bow of the vessel sunk and then came up.  He was up to his knees in water at the port-rail wearing his lace-up boots and with no life-belt and decided to get into the water and onto his back. The craft turned from a 45 degree angle and the deck loomed above.  He recognised Jack Ballinger's life-belt, a friend, who he then saw was badly injured and drowning.  Another telegrapher in the water appeared to have broken legs so he gave him the life-belt.  Eventually, a LCG threw him a line and pulled him aboard.  He had a head injury and after being patched up and put in an army uniform with Royal Marine identity on it, he went on deck. The Germans started shelling and in a state of shock, he lay down on the deck and tried to dig a "fox hole".  After a short spell in hospital,  he was drafted to Submarines and finished his war experience in the Far East on board the submarine Thule.

LCH 185 was travelling towards Gooseberry a breakwater formed by sinking ships and manned by army and navy personnel and anti-aircraft guns. Later, this was replaced by Mulberry harbour.  A Mulberry harbour was a portable temporary harbour developed by the British in World War II to facilitate rapid offloading of cargo onto the beaches during the Allied invasion of Normandy. It was developed in a large extent based on the marine construction techniques used by Guy Maunsell for his "sea forts".

Patrick has not talked about this experience until this time. He was interviewed on by Danny Pike Sussex radio 25 June 2015 (13:14 minutes into the programme). Although it is now 71 years ago, he still finds it hard to put his thoughts into words but he feels very much for the young men he was with, especially at ceremonies.

The National Order of the Legion of Honour,  Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 May 1802. The Order is the highest decoration in France.  The order's motto is "Honneur et Patrie" ("Honour and Fatherland") and its seat is the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur on the left bank of the River Seine in Paris.  The presentation was at Redoubt Fortress, Easbourne and presented by the Consul Honoraire de France, Captain Francois Jean.  He spoke about his father being a prisoner in a German war-camp at the time of D-day and how this was a liberation for his family.

I will have to put the Palais on my list of places to visit. Here are some pictures he sent me and I have included some shots I took on his 90th birthday last year.

Medal worn by a Chevalier (Knight) 
of the Légion d'honneur

Much Wenlock -

 

 

Much Wenlock and St Milburga's Priory

Guild Hall

1. It was my first visit to the ruined medieval Priory with remains of the13th-century church and ornately carved Norman chapter house.  It was a very hot day and the sun very bright so challenging for photography.  Wedlock Priory is part of English Heritage but Wenlock Abbey which was the infirmary is privately owned. 
2. And is it haunted? According to the Staffordshire Paranormal Investigation Team who reported that somewhere so beautiful by day has got to be haunted at night stated:

   “At 6:45 pm on a winter’s night members of the Investighost team were at the priory doing some filming… One of the team filmed a person standing on the third floor of the abbey. The third floor which has no floor?! Monks can be heard to chant, and if you are lucky enough to stay after dark, you’re in for a real treat near the north tower.”

   The town had great character with plenty to explore. I am assured the Saturday market is worth a visit and on the same day the queues for the butchers shop stretch well down the street. The bookshop was a great discovery and provided seating so one could sit and browse, and there were facilities to make a cup of coffee.
3. 
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   Jesus calling the fisherman at Canna