Village life in Normandy
[Page under development: last updated 2 August 2015]
This page will cover various aspects of life in Normandy since we came to live here in 1994
This page will cover various aspects of life in Normandy since we came to live here in 1994
We live in the countryside 2 km from Notre Dame de Cenilly, a small village on the crossroads of the D38 and D29, and part of the previous canton of Cerisy-la-Salle in the Manche Département (50). In 2015 cantons were re-grouped and Cerisy-la-Salle was incorporated in a new larger canton of Quettreville-sur-Sienne. The nearest large towns are Coutances and St-Lô
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World War 2
The German Occupation 1940-44
Souvenirs de Normandie is an account (in French) by Denise Wolnerman of her time as a young Jewish refugee in Normandy. Born in 1936, she started school in Paris 1942 and was already forced to wear a yellow star. Already aware of the danger represented to Jews by German soldiers, she.was sent to Normandy. This is her own story (with photographs) of her evacuation to Normandy and her time in N D de Cenilly from March 1943 to September 1944 (i.e. before and after the D-Day landings in June 1944).
Souvenirs de Normandie is an account (in French) by Denise Wolnerman of her time as a young Jewish refugee in Normandy. Born in 1936, she started school in Paris 1942 and was already forced to wear a yellow star. Already aware of the danger represented to Jews by German soldiers, she.was sent to Normandy. This is her own story (with photographs) of her evacuation to Normandy and her time in N D de Cenilly from March 1943 to September 1944 (i.e. before and after the D-Day landings in June 1944).
D-Day (6th June 1944) remembered
D-Day is commemorated each year in ceremonies hosted in turn by each of the communes in the canton.
D-Day ceremony 2013 (Cerisy-la-Salle)
Monument to Lancaster bomber crew
On 6th June 1944 a Lancaster bomber of the Royal Australian Air Force was shot down in Cerisy-la-Salle. The pilot was Australian, the crew British: all seven crew died.. There is now a monument in their memory where a ceremony is held each year on the first Sunday in June, where, for several years, on the first Sunday in June, Hilary Thompson has organised a memorial ceremony for the crew, attended by mayors of the local communes, anciens combattants (French combat veterans) and a mixed gathering of French and English. The local band marches down the hill from the church, followed by the anciens combattants and their commune banners. Sometimes there are also members of families of the crew. The mayor welcomes everyone, the names of the crew are read out and a small cross laid next to the name of each airman. Wreaths are laid by the anciens combattants, a minute's silence is observed and national anthems are played . After the ceremony the canton offers a vin d'honneur.
Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 2014)
Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 2015)
D-Day ceremony 2013 (Cerisy-la-Salle)
Monument to Lancaster bomber crew
On 6th June 1944 a Lancaster bomber of the Royal Australian Air Force was shot down in Cerisy-la-Salle. The pilot was Australian, the crew British: all seven crew died.. There is now a monument in their memory where a ceremony is held each year on the first Sunday in June, where, for several years, on the first Sunday in June, Hilary Thompson has organised a memorial ceremony for the crew, attended by mayors of the local communes, anciens combattants (French combat veterans) and a mixed gathering of French and English. The local band marches down the hill from the church, followed by the anciens combattants and their commune banners. Sometimes there are also members of families of the crew. The mayor welcomes everyone, the names of the crew are read out and a small cross laid next to the name of each airman. Wreaths are laid by the anciens combattants, a minute's silence is observed and national anthems are played . After the ceremony the canton offers a vin d'honneur.
Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 2014)
Lancaster bomber crew (Memorial Ceremony 2015)
Liberation: July 1944
Between 24th and 27th July 1944, there was fierce fighting as the US 2nd Armored Division moved South down the D38, liberating local villages one by one. Notre Dame de Cenilly was liberated on 27th July and Roncey on the 29th. The 70th anniversary celebrations for the villages in the canton took place in Roncey on 27th July 2014.
Liberation celebrations 2014 contains a video clip of the firework display taken by our grandson Joe Hughes, great grandson of Joe Hughes who was parachuted into Normandy with 9 Para before midnight on June 5th 1944 for the attack on the Franceville-Merville gun battery (simultaneous with the raid on Pegasus Bridge) He was one of only 75 men who was not either killed or wounded.
Notre Dame de Cenilly was liberated by troops of the US 2nd Armored Division on 27 July 1944. This date is celebrated each year by the laying of wreaths.
Visit of US 2nd Armored Division veterans (Hell on Wheels (US 2nd Armored Division)
On Wednesday 2 September 2009 we had a visit by nine veterans who were part of the US 2nd Armored Division and their families. The visit formed part of the 65th Anniversary Veterans Liberation Tour in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and was the last formal event of the tour.
Unveiling of new monument (13 June 2015)
On 13 June 2015 a new monument was unveiled in memory of American soldiers killed during the liberation of Notre Dame de Cenilly and surrounding villages 27 - 29 July 1944
Between 24th and 27th July 1944, there was fierce fighting as the US 2nd Armored Division moved South down the D38, liberating local villages one by one. Notre Dame de Cenilly was liberated on 27th July and Roncey on the 29th. The 70th anniversary celebrations for the villages in the canton took place in Roncey on 27th July 2014.
Liberation celebrations 2014 contains a video clip of the firework display taken by our grandson Joe Hughes, great grandson of Joe Hughes who was parachuted into Normandy with 9 Para before midnight on June 5th 1944 for the attack on the Franceville-Merville gun battery (simultaneous with the raid on Pegasus Bridge) He was one of only 75 men who was not either killed or wounded.
Notre Dame de Cenilly was liberated by troops of the US 2nd Armored Division on 27 July 1944. This date is celebrated each year by the laying of wreaths.
Visit of US 2nd Armored Division veterans (Hell on Wheels (US 2nd Armored Division)
On Wednesday 2 September 2009 we had a visit by nine veterans who were part of the US 2nd Armored Division and their families. The visit formed part of the 65th Anniversary Veterans Liberation Tour in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and was the last formal event of the tour.
Unveiling of new monument (13 June 2015)
On 13 June 2015 a new monument was unveiled in memory of American soldiers killed during the liberation of Notre Dame de Cenilly and surrounding villages 27 - 29 July 1944
Music
Midsummer music
On June 21st every year, the centre of St-Lô is sealed off. The local radio channel Tendance sponsors an open-air pop concert on the banks of the river Vire and all over town there are groups playing outside bars. Thousands of people flock the streets: it's a great atmosphere.