As we approach the the D-Day commemorations we thought it would be appropriate to include an extract from the diaries of Mrs Anne Coultrip, who lived with her husband Alfred at Norwood Manor, Eastchuch at the time. It gives a stirring account of their experience…
“Having come through the war years 1939 and on, with an aerodrome on our left and the North Sea and Thames Estuary on our right, and in view all the time – we knew only too well what was about to happen. My husband and I lived through the momentous run up to D-day and after.
One morning very early, we heard the approach of many planes over our farm house, long long before we saw them.
It was a never to be forgotten sight – and as we went out our porch door to stand at the gate we could not believe our eyes! the sky over the Isle of Sheppey (12 miles x 7 miles) in the early hours of that morning was black with planes towing gliders – thousands of them it seemed, in all directions – very little sky was visible – it was just aircraft and the noise was more than deafening – it was earth shaking. It took 2 hours before the last plane and glider passed out of sight.
We stood completely spellbound – and I suppose I was crying – thinking of all it meant to those boys packed like sardines in the gliders above ¬a great sad feeling hit you in the pit of ones stomach. My husband said “Don’t feel sad – if I know anything of those boys up there – they are glad of the action at last”! “
It must have been a truly moving sight to see them flying over Eastchurch, knowing the sacrifice that many of them were to make.
