Does anyone really care to see your butts on our beaches?

We are of course referring to cigarette butts. This Saturday we once again joined Surfrider Newport Beach Chapter at their regular Huntington beach clean up ( 4Th Saturday morning of every month from 8-12). We picked up many polystyrene coffee cups and broken plastic lids, just as we did last month. This month however we were made aware of the literally thousands of cigarette butts on the beach. So many that we could hardly make a dent ourselves in an hour picking them up.
Many of the beaches in California are designated Smoke-Free beaches. You can find a list of all smoke-free beaches on the Earth Resources Foundation Website. Huntington Beach (the site of the beach clean up) is on this list and we did not expect to find all these butts. Of course recent rains in Southern California have meant that our streets and gutters have been cleared out and the water has flowed down to the ocean via the watershed, bringing with it the disposed of butts and much more.

Most cigarette butts are made from cellulose acetate and are not biodegradable, only breaking apart over a long period of time, depending on conditions. This time frame can be up to 15 years. The butts therefore cause an unsightly environmental problem for many years before they break up. The butts are also the filters for the cigarettes themselves and therefore contain the left over chemicals from the cigarette. Once they come into contact with water, the butts begin leaching these chemicals, which include cadmium, lead, formaldehyde and arsenic into the water. The butts make their way down through the watershed and end up polluting our oceans and inside the intestines and stomachs of fish, whales, dolphins, birds and the other numerous marine animals.
If you are a smoker, understand that your cigarette butts do not biodegrade and only break apart over a long period of time. They will cause numerous environmental problems. So hold on to your butts. Instead of throwing your butt out on the street or into the gutter, pick up a BUTTsOUT personal ashtray. You can get them at one of the Surfrider beach cleanups.
For us non smokers, let your smoking friends know that their butts end up on our beaches and tell them what they can do about it. Join in at beach cleanups and don't be afraid to pick up the butts. At most beach cleanups gloves are supplied, so there is no need to touch them with your hands.

Last week Dudley and Melanie were on the Island of Tonga which is in the South Pacific. This is a small country made up of many coral islands. There are no rivers or lakes on the main island of Tongatapu and the only fresh water is rain water, which is collected and stored. On small islands such as these sustainability is very important to a healthy human population. All items must be reused as much as possible. While on the island we visited a local coffee shop to sample the Tongan brew. There are no disposable coffee cups sold here, so we happily enjoyed our drinks in the glass mugs they provided.

Of course there is no reason why we as Americans and Canadians cannot do the same as the Tongans and reuse our coffee mugs and many other things too. Sustainability is important for all countries. We all need to reduce our impact on the environment in whatever way we can.

Start with your coffee mug. Remember to always bring your own when you visit a coffee shop. If you would like to create a personalized coffee mug, you can go to http://www.gogreenmug.com/ and pick one up there. And if you enjoy a smoke with your cup of coffee, remember to hold onto your butts when you are done with the cigarette.

Martin Luther was a noted Christian theologian whose unorthodox teachings not only inspired but also influenced the doctrines of Protestant and other Christian traditions. Martin Luther was born to Hans and Margaretha Luder on 10 November 1483 in Germany and was baptized the next day on the feast of St. Martin of Tours and he was thus named Martin.  Luther’s clarion call to the Church to return to the teachings of the Bible led to the formation of new traditions within Christianity and the Counter-Reformation in the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1505, Martin Luther received his Master's degree and in keeping with his father's wishes, he enrolled in the law school of that university. But his destiny was rewritten when a lightening bolt struck near to him as he was returning to school. Terrified, he cried out, "Help, St. Anne! I'll become a monk!".  Martin was saved of his life, but regretting his words, Martin Luther dropped out of law school and entered the monastery. Martin fully dedicated himself to monastic life and began his efforts to noble deeds to please God and to serve others through prayer. He indulged in fasts and long hours in prayer, undertook pilgrimages, and constant confession. The more he tried to devotedly work for God, the more aware he became of his own sins. In 1507 Luther was ordained to the priesthood. In 1508 he began teaching theology at the University of Wittenberg. Luther earned his Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies on 9 March 1508 and a Bachelor's degree in 1509. On 19 October 1512, the University of Wittenberg conferred upon Martin Luther the degree of Doctor of Theology. After earning the doctorate in theology, Luther instead of settling down to a scholarly monkish life or an uneventful university career teaching theology, began to develop his own personal theology, when he protested the use of indulgences in his ‘95 Theses’.

Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, a former nun and with it began the tradition of clerical marriage within several Christian traditions.  Luther’s translation of the Bible also helped to develop a standard version of the Bible in German language.  Luther's hymns were responsible for the development of congregational singing in Christianity. The compulsion of priesthood and the demand for delivering lectures prompted Martin Luther to study the Scriptures in greater depth. Luther engrossed himself in the teachings of the early church and began researching on them.  The uproar and tumult started with the publication of his 95 Theses and the controversy that was let loose brought even more pressure on Martin Luther to more intensely study the Bible. This intensive study convinced him that the Church had lost sight of several central truths the Bible contained.

Luther's first writing was ‘The Sermon on Good Works’, in which he argued that good works do not benefit the soul but only faith could do that. Things took a turn for the worse when Pope Leo declared 41 articles of Luther's teachings as heretical teachings, and Luther's books were publicly burned in Rome. This made Luther more indignant in his effort to reform the church. His treatise, "Address to the Christian Nobility of Germany," exhorted the German people to use military means to force the church to discuss grievances and reform. Luther initially saw himself as a great reformer of the Catholic Church, and though a simple monk thought the force of his ideas would redirect the Leviathan of the church. But in the end, however, he divided Christianity into two separate churches and the second division came to be known as Protestantism.

Canada is blessed with its natural beauty that makes it a popular destination for couples looking for a place to have a wedding filled with the aura of romance. Canada with its rocky banks, snow-covered mountains and lush green mounts is almost a dream setting for a romantic wedding.

Canada too has some of the most beautiful beaches. Arbutus Cove, Hanlan's Point Beach, Long Point, Wasaga Beach, Jericho Beach and Sunset Beach are just some of the spectacular beaches in Canada. With these beautiful beaches, beach-themed weddings are certainly something to seriously consider.

The gentle breeze on your face as you watch the waves crashing into the sandy beach and the sun setting is a sure way to lift the romantic mood in anyone. Weddings on beaches are not all as relaxing as the atmosphere for careful wedding planning is needed to make it happen and here are some of our tips to for you to follow.

Decide what atmosphere it is that you want to create- formal or informal.

A formal wedding might require you to wear a traditional wedding dress but an informal one allows you the freedom of choosing the dress you like be it sea-inspired prints or colored attire.

Wedding arches are must have décor for weddings however, if you predict that the wind will be very strong, you better do without it. Candles should be skipped altogether for it will not lit up completely in the presence of wind. You can have torches instead of candles but make sure that the strength of the wind is no more than 10 mph.

Wear the proper footwear. Shoes are not advisable to wear if there is no runner, otherwise, shoes will be filled up with sand.

GO for colors that blend in with the environment.

Don't forget to provide chairs for your guests. No one is keen on having to stand around the whole time.

If you're having an evening beach wedding, be sure to have power source available so that your ceremony can be equipped with proper lighting. Having a wedding in the dark will not be thrilling. The pathways should be cleared of all wirings so that accidents can be prevented.

Don't have the wedding in the middle of the day when the Sun is at its mightiest. This is not good for everyone because of the harmful sunrays. You don't want your elderly guests to suffer from sunstroke. Early morning or late afternoons are the best times to hold the wedding. It's good to have a tent or tiki hut standing by for shelter.

There are many beach or sea-inspired wedding favours to give to your guests. You can choose from seahorse and starfish frosted glass coasters, shell-inspired spreaders, candleholders with resin shell base, starfish bath soap, sailboat picture frame, flip flop floating candles to engraved rock paperweight. All these will create fond memories of your wedding in the minds of your guests.

A bride wearing pearl jewelry will always look stunning and elegant. No matter if you're having a formal or informal wedding, pearl can work for any type. Pearl is great for beach wedding because it is sea inspired. Pearl jewelry can match just about any wedding gown too.

Pearl necklaces vary depending on the length. It may be a choker, rope, princess, collar, matinee and opera. A pearl choker is 14-16 inches long. The pearl rope is 40-72 inches or longer. The princess is 17-20 inches which looks good at both plunging and both necklines. The collar is 12 to 13 inches comprising of three stands of pearls at the least. The matinee is 20-25 inches and it looks best on high necklines. For brides who'll get married for the second time, matinee is ideal. The last is opera which is 27-36 inches. This pearl is long enough to reach the waist so it can be wrapped into two strands to create a choker.

Don't just consider pearl necklace as there are pearl earring that you can wear too. You can wear the classic stud pearl earring for the elegant looking gowns and wear dangling ones for the simple gowns.

Thoroughly plan your beach wedding in Canada, select a practical and enduring wedding favor and look fabulous in your pearls.

No matter your tastes or budget, Palm Beach offers some incredible locations for the wedding of your dreams. There are some key features that are involved within a wedding in this area that ensure that your wedding will be extravagant and memorable. You can build and plan the greatest day of your life in Palm Beach while taking advantage of the infinite amount of options within the area.

Beach wedding locations are often the first things that come to mind when you think of Palm Beach weddings. If this is what you are after, then Juno Beach can be one of the most awe aspiring locations in the world. The beach itself is beautiful, clean and spacious enough for a wedding of any size. With the sunset at your back and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, Juno Beach can be the place that dreams are made of. The key is to find a trustworthy and reliable service provider that will help and cater to your needs and desires.

If you are looking for some a little different from a beach wedding when thinking of Palm Beach you want to look into holding your event at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. This lighthouse is one of the most historic locations in the surrounding area and can be the perfect background for the beginning of your married life. If you have a small wedding party, you can even say your vows on top of the lighthouse. If you are looking at having a larger party then you can have a beautiful ceremony put together on the steps leading up to the elegant area.

If you are looking to go a little off of the beaten path and stay way from the more generic locations in Palm Beach you can opt for the Flagler Museum. At this location you can hold your ceremony and reception in the middle of history and be surrounded by unrivaled luxury. The Museum offers an elegant hall for the reception and a gorgeous location for photos out back with the Palm Beach waterfront in the forefront.

No matter what your tastes are or your requirements, Palm Beach can prove to be the perfect location for any wedding. Whether you want to say your vows on the beach or in a historic venue, the options are quite endless. With the right help and the perfect caterer you can be well on your way to making all your wedding dreams a reality.

Weddings are one of the most special celebrations in life. The couple has to plan and prepare much in occasions like this because they may only come once in a lifetime. Today, most couples celebrate their weddings on the beach. Apart from its being non-traditional, beach weddings are more romantic and special for the couple.

Planning Your Beach Wedding

It is no surprise that more and more couples prefer beach weddings. A wedding on the beach is perhaps more memorable if held in places like Saint Tropez. The beautiful scenery would not only amuse your guests but would complement your wedding as well. Before deciding on a beach wedding reception at Saint Tropez, you have to plan on it carefully first. Here is a useful guide in your plans of a beach wedding reception at the magnificent town.

*The Paperwork

There are several documents that have to be filed before the wedding day. You have to prepare these papers at the place where you are going to be wed. Since you are planning on a beach wedding at St. Tropez, you have to prepare your visas and some important documents needed to make the wedding legal.

*Medical Consult

Some people do not go well with the warm weather. So if you are planning to tie the knot at St. Tropez, you have to make sure that you're in a healthy condition.

*The Budget

A proper budget plan has to be made before planning on a beach wedding. You need to know how much you can afford to spend including the plane tickets, the wedding itself, and the reception afterwards.

You must consider paying for boat fees or airplane tickets when planning on a beach wedding. You have to count the number of guests and estimate how much you should prepare for each of them. You can get great discounts if you book hotel rooms and tickets at an earlier time. Be sure to contact a good travel agent before making your wedding plans.

Why Go For A Beach Wedding Reception?

There are several reasons why many couples prefer beach weddings over the traditional type. Let us review some of the best qualities of a wedding on the beach:

*The Scenery

One of the best beach wedding places is in Saint Tropez. The endless blue sky and the waves in the ocean are your primary witnesses during that special day. Beach weddings do not need extra special decorations like traditional weddings do. The environment of the beach itself is enough to provide you a beautiful place for your wedding day.

*The Abundant Choices of Resorts

Wedding on the St Tropez beach offers an abundant choice of resorts. Since there are plenty of options to choose around, the couple would not have a hard time looking for the perfect beach wedding reception area.

*Less Costly

If a proper budget is followed, a beach wedding reception would turn out to be more cost effective than a traditional wedding reception. Because the view itself is spectacular, you no longer need to decorate the place all over.

*Great Attire

Beach weddings allow you to combine the modern with the conventional. You can wear a semi-formal dress to a casual garb. And despite the kind of outfit you prefer, a religious and very traditional ceremony can still be enjoyed.

Weddings on the beach definitely outdo traditional weddings by miles. It is something that the couple and guests would surely never forget. From the dress to the scenery, a beach wedding is something unique yet fabulous.

Loggerhead sea turtles come ashore Folly Beach, SC to lay their eggs between May and October.  Despite popular belief, the females only nest every two or three years, and during their nesting season they can lay anywhere from two to five separate batches of eggs.  Each of these batches, or nests, usually contains about 100 eggs which incubate for approximately 45 to 60 days.  And, scientists think that they lay their eggs on the same beach they were born, but this topic is still up for debate.  Scientists have found that only about 1 out of every 1000 hatchlings will survive until his or her time to reproduce many years later.

Many beaches in Charleston and other coastal cities have sea turtle protection programs that help to improve this staggering statistic.  In Folly Beach, the program is called the Folly Beach Turtle Watch Program.  Their group is made up of volunteers who walk the beach every morning during nesting season between 5:30 and 7:00 AM in search of turtle activity.  The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has licensed this non-commercial group, and DNR oversees the group in order to help keep the turtles safe and undisturbed.

Many residents and visitors of Folly Beach ask what they can do to help the sea turtles.  We’ve collected some information from the group’s website so that you can do your part to help the turtles.

1)  If you see signs of sea turtle activity (their footprints look like tractor tire imprints), please call the Folly Beach Public Safety dispatcher at (843) 588-2433.  If you’re near the dunes where they lay their eggs, be careful to not walk on a potential nest site.  When you call the dispatcher, look at your surroundings so that you can give an accurate description of your location on the beach.  Note what houses are closest to you, and look to see if there are any beach accesses nearby.  The dispatcher will then contact one of the Crew members to check out the area.

2)  If you live or vacation near the beach, be sure to turn off your floodlights and porch lights.  Also, if you’re on the beachfront, close your curtains at night so that the light coming from inside your house doesn’t disturb the turtles.  When the adult females come on shore to lay their eggs (and when the hatchlings try to make their way to the ocean), they use the light of the moon to find their way.  Artificial lights from houses can easily disorient them, and they can quickly become lost.  Many turtles wandering on the beach can die from dehydration or fall victim to hungry birds.

3)  Sometimes dogs or other animals dig up a sea turtle’s nest.  Like many sea turtle protection programs, the Folly Beach Turtle Watch Program clearly marks identified nests with an orange sign and tape.  If you notice that a nest has been disturbed, please call the Folly Beach Public Safety dispatcher.

4)  Pick up trash on the beach.  Sea turtles (and other marine animals) can become entangled in fishing line and bags, and they can mistake our trash as food.  Plastics can especially be harmful, so be sure to pick up trash like bottles, firework remnants, bags and fishing line. 

5)  Remove potential obstacles from the beach at the end of the day.  If you have dug any large play holes in the sand, please fill them back in with sand after you or the kids have had your fun.  Also, take chairs and beach toys off the beach at the end of the day.  Hatchlings are only about two inches long, so they can easily become trapped as they make their way to the ocean.

It is a very long way for a hatchling to travel from the dunes of the beach to the Gulf Stream.  Although many of the obstacles they face are completely natural, people are also partly to blame for the species’ struggle.  Because loggerhead sea turtles are on the Endangered Species List, state and federal laws protect them.  However, it is our responsibility to help the species survive. 

When you are planning your wedding reception you often pour over each and every detail to ensure that things are exactly as you envision them to be. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life so, it is not surprising that you want everything to be perfect. From the food to the flowers, every detail is of high importance.

There are many people and places that provide catering services in Palm Beach because of that making the right choice for your wedding can be difficult. Catering in Palm Beach is varied in cost, style and cuisine. The theme and tone of your wedding will ultimately help you determine which of the services catering in Palm Beach is the best match for you.

Restaurant or banquet room catering in Palm Beach is quite popular. Having your wedding at a venue that does both catering in Palm Beach and allows you to have your ceremony there is optimal for may people. Many venues that offer catering in Palm Beach will also take care of your flowers, decorations, linens and cake. If you can find a venue that matches your wedding theme and tone and they are willing to accommodate any special request that you have you, this is an ideal way to take care of several wedding details at once.

Often when couples are getting married they already have a specific venue in mind for their wedding. If that specific venue does not offer catering they will have to find another company that caters in Palm Beach to provide the food for their wedding. There are many wonderful companies providing a variety of cuisine styles in Palm Beach. In fact, some of the best catering in Palm Beach is done by traveling catering services. Additionally, many of these companies provide more personalized options in their services.

One of the most important new trends in the world of weddings and wedding planning has been the incredible popularity of weddings held at beach resorts, and for many years now California beach weddings have been among the most popular among all kinds of brides and grooms.

The state of California certainly has no shortage of beautiful beaches, and holding a fabulous wedding in such a great location is one of the best ways to celebrate this most special of days.

Start Your Search Early To Ensure You Have Space At The Resort

Those wishing to plan the perfect California beach wedding should be sure to start searching early, since the best beach resorts in the state can often fill up quickly, both with wedding parties and with general vacationers.

This shopping early is even more important during the busy summer wedding months but it is important at other times of year as well.

Compare The Values Of Various California Beach Resorts

There are many places to start the search for the perfect resort to host your California beach weddings, but if you already have a favorite California beach resort it may be a good idea to check with that resort first when contacting the resort location it is important to determine what the beach resort will handle and what you will be responsible for.

This is an essential consideration, and it is important to know which aspects of planning the wedding you will have to take care of at your own expense. Knowing what each resort is offering is the best way to accurately and easily compare the values of the various California beach weddings.

Making Sure You Have Fun When Planning You Wedding

After you have selected the perfect resort location for your beach wedding, it is important to get the invitations out as quickly as possible, since an accurate count of guests will help the rest of the wedding planning process go a lot more smoothly.

It is always important to get the invitations out as quickly as possible, of course, but it is even more vital when it comes to planning California beach weddings.

It is important as well to reserve a block of hotel rooms for out of town guests, and to make sure that all of your invited guests have the information they need to reserve their rooms.

Providing an easy way for guests to attend your wedding will make the entire process of planning the perfect beach wedding even more exciting and fun.

Generations of people with an oral tradition, keep their ancient traditions and customs alive in the far northern isolated tropical islands of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific.

The sacred Bay of Olal, on the Island of Ambrym, is the home of a large rock, named Pouviaserole. The locals say it was once the guardian of the bay.

Pouviaserole, or Guardian, was a marine beast with a large horn in the middle of its head. Tradition says it had the appearance of something between a wild boar and a savage dog of enormous proportions.

Pouviaserole transformed itself into an innocent looking log. It would lay on the beach watch the children, from the nearby villages, enjoying a swim in the tropical and tepid waters of the bay.

The children would often pick up the log and throw Pouviaserole into the water. Peals of laughter would fill the air as they watched the ‘log’ drift back up on the beach.

Pouviaserole would suddenly transform itself back into the monster it really was, pounce on the unsuspecting children and consume them.

The beast repeated the deception after many months, as undetected it would once more slink away to its underwater lair, with a belly full of children.

That area of the ocean eventually became off limits, as the Chieftan of the neighbouring village finally declared the children were no longer allowed to swim there.

Pouviaserole showed up at the village, after realising the children were no longer visiting his beach. In anticipation of the coming feast, it hungrily licked its lips as it slithered along.

The most handsome and the strongest child of the village, was suddenly snatched greedily by the monster. It was the Chief’s son.

The men of the village were ordered, by the enraged and grieving Chief, to hide in the bush which surrounded the beach. Finally revenge would be exacted on the guardian of the sacred bay.

Still hungry, the monster needed more food.

It was only out of the water a small way when the avenging hunters attacked. The men of the village rushed forward in spite of the size of the huge beast. Throwing their spears, the first hit the monster in the eye and the next in its stomach.

Mortally wounded the beast turned, determined to reach the safety of its lair before breathing its last breath. In one last effort, a valiant warrior threw his spear. It embedded itself in the nape of the monster’s neck.

Pouviaserole blood stained the sacred waters. It stopped, as if in one final act of defiance, it turned into a rock to protect itself from its attackers. Immortality had come to Pouviaserole.

Visitors can see the guardian of the bay in the Bay of Olal, even today.

An illustrated anthology of the oral traditions of Vanuatu called Nabanga is rich with tales like the one of the Guardian rock Pouviaserole. Vanuatu is beginning to share its many secrets, as when it recently sent some of its sacred art to an exhibition outside Vanuatu for the first time.

Some may read these anthological tales with amusement. However, an underlying tragedy lays at the heart the beautiful tropical islands of the Happiest Country on Earth.

Education is an elusive goal for many children throughout Vanuatu. Education is not free. The meagre income, of many of the isolated villagers in a “no cash” economy, on under $1 per day, means there is no education.

What are the consequences for the island children?

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• Only 55.8% of Vanuatu kids will get to grade 6;
  

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• of those only 18.2% will go to high school ;
  

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• 26% will never go to school at all.
  

The Vanuatu government in late 2007 admitted it did not have the money, or the resources to provide education outside of the main islands. Education is not a priority.

Make a difference; join an exciting Blue Moon Opportunity. Help children who love and appreciate their own culture while being hungry to enjoy the benefits of the 21st Century.

You can really make a difference. This is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss.

This article is brought to you by In the footsteps BATTLEFIELD TOURS

On the 6 June 1944 the greatest seaborne invasion the world has ever known took place on the Calvados Coast of Normandy, France. This invasion was the beginning of the end of the Second World War and the 6 June 1944 will be forever known as D-Day. This article is an account of the first action that took place on D-Day at the Caen Canal and River Orne Bridges near Bénouville, France. It tells the true story of the coup-de-main assault by British Gliderborne soldiers to capture these two vital bridges.

Preceding the seaborne landings three Allied Airborne Divisions were dropped to secure the flanks of the five-invasion beaches where the Allied 21st Army Group was to come ashore. In the west two US Airborne Divisions dropped onto the Cotentin peninsula behind UTAH beach and in the east the British 6th Airborne Division (Br 6 AB Div) dropped into the area between the River Orne and River Dives to the east of SWORD beach.

One of the primary tasks of the Br 6 AB Div was to seize intact the two bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne near Bénouville and hold them until relieved against any German counterattacks. This mission was considered to be vital to the success of the invasion, as it would allow the seaborne forces to reinforce the Br 6 AB Div’s area and subsequently break out to the east. D Company the 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (D Coy 2 OBLI) commanded by Major John Howard was selected to carryout this mission and this is their story.

On the morning of 5 June 1944 the men of D Coy 2 OBLI started their final preparations and at noon Maj Howard learned that the invasion was on. He ordered the men to rest and when the evening meal was over they boarded the trucks to go to their gliders. As they climbed into their gliders he shook hands with the officers and called out words of encouragement to the men. Finally he moved to his own glider, upon the nose of which Pte Wally Parr had chalked ‘Lady Irene’ to name it after his wife. When Maj Howard got in the glider, the door was closed and on schedule they started to move down the runway. At 22.56 hrs ‘Lady Irene’ was airborne and D Coy 2 OBLI was on their way into history.

The six Halifax bombers from 298 Squadron RAF took-off with the accompanying Horsa gliders in tow and crossed the English Channel flying at an altitude of 7,000 ft. All around them were Heavy Bombers going to drop bombs on German positions in the invasion area, Caen or other selected targets. With all of this air activity the German anti-aircraft and searchlight crews failed to notice the gliders.

At the appointed time the Halifax bomber released the first glider to begin its run into the target. In the glider S/Sgt Wallwork checked their altitude and the compass, whilst S/Sgt John Ainsworth checked his stopwatch. At the appointed mark they turned to starboard and halfway down the crosswind leg of their approach S/Sgt Wallwork saw it, he could make out the river, the canal and both bridges. With visibility good and the target in sight he dropped the glider’s nose and made for the LZ. With the ground rushing up at around 95mph he held the glider on course; they hit the ground and caught the first of the wire defences. Jim Wallwork shouted, “Stream” and John Ainsworth released the arrester parachute; it lifted the tail, forced the nose into the ground, tore off the wheels and bounced the glider back into the air. The arrester parachute did its job and they hit the ground again; this time on the skids. Jim Wallwork shouted, “Jettison” and John Ainsworth pressed the button to release the parachute; now travelling at about 60mph the glider threw up hundreds of friction sparks from the skids as they passed over rocks. Seeing these sparks through the open door Maj Howard thought that they had been spotted and were being fired upon. All of a sudden there was an almighty crash and the glider came to a jarring halt; Jim Wallwork and John Ainsworth were hurled out through the cockpit still strapped in their seats. It was 00.16 hrs early in the morning of D-Day 6 June 1944 and the first Allied soldiers had arrived on French soil.

The glider’s passengers were momentarily knocked unconscious, but Maj Howard’s fanaticism for physical fitness paid off; they quickly recovered and in a matter of seconds their training kicked in. Automatically removing their harnesses, they exited the glider through any hole they could make or find. On reaching the outside Maj Howard realised that there was no shooting and they had landed without being spotted. Looking around he thanked god for Jim Wallwork and John Ainsworth; they had put the glider right into the corner of the field where he wanted it.

Lt Herbert Denham ‘Den’ Brotheridge and the men of 25 Platoon swiftly exited the glider and quietly shook out into their assault formation. Lt Brotheridge whispered into Cpl Jack Bailey’s ear and off he went with his two men to deal with the pillbox where the firing mechanism to blow the bridges was located. Gathering the remainder of his platoon he gave a whispered, “Come on lads” and they made a dash for the bridge.

One minute had passed since the first glider had landed and S/Sgt Oliver Bowland at the controls of glider 92 came down within 25 yards of glider 91. Lt David Wood was thrown clear still clutching on to his sten and canvas bucket of extra grenades; relieved to find himself in one piece he pulled himself together, gathered his platoon and set off for the wire perimeter where Maj Howard would be waiting.

Lt Brotheridge and 25 Platoon were moving on to the bridge at a steady trot as two German sentries passed each other in the middle. The sentry walking towards the eastern end of the bridge was suddenly confronted by a pack of British airborne soldiers coming out of the night; confronted by this hellish sight he turned tail and ran shouting “paratroopers” as he went. The second sentry, a German NCO, turned to see what was happening and on seeing the British paratroopers running towards him pulled out the Verey pistol that he was carrying. Pte Billy Gray sent a burst from his Bren towards him and Lt Den Brotheridge fired off a full magazine from his sten. The German NCO was hit by a storm of bullets, but as he fell dead to the ground the Verey pistol went off and a flare shot up into the night.

As the flare went off Cpl Bailey and his two men arrived at the pillbox and tossed their grenades in through the weapon slits; the grenades were followed up with a burst of fire and they looked inside when the dust settled to find no one left alive.

Pte Wally Parr was just running on to the bridge when the flare shot skywards; he saw the door of a nearby dugout half open and abruptly shut again. Pulling out a grenade he ran across the road and by the time he got to the dugout the pin was out. Opening the door just enough to throw it in, he tossed the grenade through the opening and quickly shut the door. As the grenade exploded Pte Charlie Gardiner jumped into the dugout, Wally Parr opened the door again, and Gardiner finished off the Germans inside with a burst from his sten.

The shouts of “paratroopers” from the running sentry, the sound of Lt Brotheridge’s sten, Pte Gray’s burst from his Bren, the crump of Cpl Bailey’s grenades going off and the flare from the German NCOs Verey pistol brought the other German defenders to life. Many of the private soldiers were foreign conscripts and these quickly faded into the night, but the NCOs all of whom were German sprang to their positions.

Back on LZ ‘X’ glider 93 came to a halt with a shuddering crash on the edge of the pond between the two gliders already on the ground, as it did so it swung ninety degrees breaking in half. Capt John Vaughan RAMC was thrown clear and knocked completely unconscious. Lt Richard ‘Sandy’ Smith was also thrown clear to land face down in the mud; he had lost his sten and momentarily did not know where he was or what he was doing. Picking up the nearest sten Lt Smith gathered his platoon together and made for Maj Howard’s position. One of the other members of 14 Platoon however, was not so lucky; L/Cpl Fred Greenhalgh was knocked unconscious on impact and thrown clear to land face down in the pond where he drowned.

By now the sappers from glider 91 were under the bridge cutting wires and looking for explosives as they went. Lt David Wood’s 24 Platoon were just arriving at Maj Howard’s position and barely two minutes had passed since the first glider had touched down.

The German sentry reached the far end of the bridge without being hit and threw himself into a trench. The Germans in their trenches turned their weapons to point at the running airborne soldiers. Lt Brotheridge was almost across the bridge when he saw the first of the enemy beginning to react and pulled a grenade from his pouch as he ran. Pte Billy Gray fired his Bren from the hip towards the enemy, as did many of the other charging men of 25 Platoon. Getting the pin out of his grenade Lt Brotheridge threw it at one of the enemy occupied trenches. As he did so a machine-gunner in another enemy trench off to his right sent a burst in his direction. As his grenade exploded in the enemy trench wiping out its occupants Lt Den Brotheridge was thrown back by the force of the machine-gun’s bullets to land on his back in the middle of the road. Other members of 25 Platoon began firing at the Germans in their trenches; the combination of this fire and a burst from Pte Gray’s Bren knocked out the machine-gun that had brought Lt Brotheridge down.

Wally Parr was trying to shout “Able, Able, Able” as he ran on to the bridge, but the words would just not come out. Freeing his tongue from the roof of his dried out mouth he finally let out a yell of “Come out and fight you square-headed bastards” in his broad Cockney accent. Lt David Wood’s men were now starting to get to grips with the Germans on the home bank.

Running straight past Maj Howard, 14 Platoon raced on to the bridge; Lt Sandy Smith had wrenched his knee and more hobbled than ran. As he crossed the bridge he saw Lt Brotheridge’s Platoon firing their weapons and throwing grenades at the German defenders. As he reached the far end he saw a German soldier near the low wall in front of the Café Gondrée about to throw a stick grenade; with a burst from his sten he sent the German sprawling across the wall dead, but the grenade landed close to Lt Smith and went off. He did not feel a thing and it was only when one of his corporals who was nearby asked if he was all right that Lt Sandy Smith noticed the holes in his Denison smock and trousers; he had been hit by the grenade’s fragments and the wrist of his trigger hand had lost all of its flesh, but he could still use his trigger finger.

At 00.21 hrs, the fighting at the Caen Canal Bridge started to die down and Pte Parr made his way to the Café that was the rallying point for 25 Platoon. As he ran past the end of the bridge he saw one of his comrades lying on the ground in the middle of the road. Knowing that he had to report to Lt Brotheridge he continued on for a few more paces before he pulled up short. Turning around he realised that the soldier on the ground was Lt Brotheridge. He went back and knelt down beside his Platoon Commander; Lt Brotheridge had been shot in the neck, his eyes were open and his lips were moving, but not a sound came out; as Wally Parr put his hand under Lt Brotheridge’s head to lift it up his eyes just rolled back.

24 Platoon had finished clearing the trenches on the home bank of the canal and Lt Wood decided to report to Maj Howard that his task was complete. With Sgt Leather and a runner he was moving back towards Maj Howard’s position when a burst from a German schmeisser rang out. Three bullets caught Lt David Wood in the leg and he fell to the ground. Bleeding profusely, frightened and shaken up he tried to stand but found he was unable to so. Both Sgt Leather and the runner had also been hit and lay on the ground nearby. Cpl Godbold one of his section commanders took over command of the platoon.

It was about this time that a shaken, but none too seriously injured S/Sgt Jim Wallwork started to regain consciousness; he was lying on his stomach with his seat on top of him. He could hear John Ainsworth calling out his name and asking if he was all right. Looking around he saw S/Sgt Ainsworth pinned under the wreckage of the glider’s nose and when he asked him if he could crawl out he replied, “No.” He asked if he lifted the nose of the glider could he crawl out, to which he received the reply, “I’ll try” and as he lifted the wreckage John Ainsworth crawled out. After getting a medic to see to John Ainsworth’s injuries, Jim Wallwork began his secondary task of unloading ammunition and carrying it forward to the men on the bridge.

It was now 00.22 hrs, six minutes after the first glider had landed, and reports of what was happening started to reach Maj Howard. The first information to come in was about Den Brotheridge; this was devastating news, as they were the best of friends. The next piece of news he received was that Lt David Wood and his Platoon Sergeant had also been hit; two of his three platoons at the bridge were now without their Platoon Commander. This was followed up with a report from 14 Platoon that informed him of Lt Smith’s injuries. Whilst Sandy Smith was still on his feet Maj Howard could not help thinking that he had effectively lost all three of his Platoon Commanders at the canal bridge; added to this he did not know what was happening at the Orne River Bridge.

At the Orne River Bridge the action was nowhere near as dramatic and at 00.26 hrs, ten minutes after glider 91 had landed, Lt Todd Sweeney report to Maj Howard that it had been captured. John Howard had the news he had been waiting for; D Coy 2 OBLI had seized both bridges intact. Exuberant Maj Howard turned to his radio operator Cpl Tappenden and told him to send the message that the bridges had been captured. “HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM” out over the radio the codewords went; “HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM” Cpl Tappenden continued to send. What Maj Howard and Cpl Tappenden did not know was that Brig Poett was unable to receive the message.

The Caen Canal Bridge was named “Pegasus Bridge” after the Pegasus emblem worn by the British 6th Airborne Division in memory of this action. The River Orne Bridge was renamed “Horsa Bridge” after the gliders that carried the men who landed here.

If you would like to following in the footsteps of an ancestor, relative or particular military unit on a battlefield tour please visit our website at In the footsteps BATTLEFIELD TOURS

Every year, Dr. Beach, aka Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research issues his pronouncement of the best beaches in America. Generally, at least 3 of Florida's beaches make the list. The anticipation of the pronouncement is keen, to say the least.


But the popularity of announcing best beaches has gone much beyond the trend began by Dr. Leatherman years ago.

There are pronouncers of best beaches sprouting up as quickly as beaches can be found.


The Travel Channel did a show not too long ago that had great visual appeal. Because it was a filmed feature and not reliant on still photography, the program really put Florida in a whole new light. The visuals were awesome and would make some question why they would ever leave the state of Florida to go to a beach anywhere else.


The show featured the top ten beaches in Florida and gave the reasons for why each was chosen to be on the list:



10 - Daytona Beach: activities and driving up and down the beach

9 - Sanibel Island (Gulf side): sea shell collecting

8 - Panama City: Spring Break

7 - Sandspur Beach (Bahia Honda): Nature preserve

6 - Smathers Beach (Key West): island-style

5 - Clearwater Beach: boating, even a pirate cruise

4 - Lover's Key Beach (outside Ft. Myers): seclusion/couples (Lover's Key Beach Club Resort)

3 - Palm Beach: living the high life, shopping (The Breakers Hotel)

2 - Siesta Key Beach: soft sand (Sand Sculpture Contest)

1 - South Beach (Miami): international scene (latin influence), winter fashion, non-stop nightlife



A life long beach lover and unofficial beach rater for many years and from many countries and continents, I would really have to question this rationale. I mean, seriously, would someone really go to a beach because they could drive their car up and down the beach?


I go to beaches to escape cars (and noise and traffic)!


Similarly, I don't need a beach to go to a beautiful hotel, go shopping, party or mingle with the rich and famous. Cities are made for scenes like this.


So, were I to toss out numbers 10, 8 and 1, it would only leave 7 top beaches in Florida, moving Sanibel into much higher ranking.....where it should be.

Why, you ask?





Well, Sanibel is great for shelling, one of the top 3 beaches in the world for that activity. Because the Gulf is generally calm, it is also great for boating. It is bordered by a nature preserve, so it is fantastic for nature viewing. There are many points of seclusion on Sanibel's beaches, including the popular Bowman's Beach near our condo and house where one can find privacy and romantic ambiance (try doing that on Siesta Key, as lovely as the sand is!)


Using as a more valid comparison the reasons I believe that most people seek out beaches---- nature, beauty, boating, seclusion---- Sanibel would more than likely win the race.