OPERATION NEPTUNE D+65: A Historic Recreation of a WWII Army “Motor March” to occur on Armed Forces Day 2009

65 years ago the United Kingdom was overflowing with over 2 million members of the US Armed Forces waiting to invade the European Continent. In reserve another 2 million  US Soldiers were in the continental United States waiting for orders to move to embarkation ports to ship off to Europe as replacements once a foothold was established on the Continent.

The breaching of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall was given the code name Operation Neptune and Operation Overlord. In the late spring of 1944 invasion plans progressed secretly and on schedule. Success would be measured on how quickly hundreds of thousands of Allied troops could be landed on French soil. This monumental task of invasion is generally referred to as “D-Day” would be the beginning of the final push to end Nazi tyranny in Europe. Motor Marches were taking place across the US and the United Kingdom.

Members of the Historic Living History Reenactment group the “26YD (YD stands for Yankee Division) and WWII Historic Military Vehicle owners will recreate a typical “Motor March” from Bedford NH to the Laconia NH area. The March will follow the path of other Motor Marches using NH Route 3 through Manchester, Concord, Franklin, to Laconia. The public is invited to view this scaled down Convoy of authentic WWII vehicles as it proceeds North.

In 1944 a Motor March would include up to a whole Infantry Division with all its support staff, potentially tens of thousands of soldiers and over 1000 vehicles all moving from a training camp to embarkation points at rail or seaports.

The recreated march will contain 12 or so vehicles and 30 plus authentically dressed and outfitted troops of the 26th YD. Stops are planned along the way to stretch and pay respects to those who sacrificed on this Armed Forces Day.

Should you have any questions do not hesitate to visit our website.

http://www.cckw.org/motormarch.htm