George returns to Juno Beach, Normandy for the first time at the age of 100.
George Cross in uniform on civvy street prior to Operation Overlord
George Cross traveled to Normandy with us in June 2009 at the age of 100. He was the oldest veteran to return to France for the 65th Anniversary D-Day Commemorations, and so became quite a celebrity.
George is a very kind and happy man who, in later life, has made a name for himself as an artist. He took up painting at the age of 67 and found he had quite a talent! His style of painting has been compared to Lowry and his many depictions of the City of Liverpool have become cherished works of art in the North West. His work has been exhibited in St. George's Hall and also published in his book 'Seeing is Believing'.
George landed on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6th June 1944...
"65 years is a long time to go back. But for me it was like a Sunday School Treat!"
Before D-Day, George, like most men of his generation, had never traveled beyond his local area. In the pre-war world travel was expensive and relatively inaccessible to the masses. Indeed many couldn't see the point. So for most the war brought opportunity for adventure, "like a Sunday School Treat!"
"The Landing Craft I was on landed on what they called Juno Beach. Even before we got to the beach there were lots of soldiers' bodies floating by. We had to disembark and wade through the water just over our knees and make our way to a sand dune...
