Ouistreham, 25 July 2010-- On this historic beach front, Sunday started cloudy and dismal but the afternoon sun broke the clouds away and dashed us all in sunshine along the Normandy coast. From Paris, it was a three and a half hour bus ride to Ouistreham on the northern coast of Normany, about midpoint of several score kilometers of  tide-weary sand ,  full of the history that made this country and forged friendships among the French, the British, the Americans and other allies of World War II. [ See Historical Note by Sir Bernard, KCR ]
 
Today was family day for the Philippine community in Paris, a chance to take a long ride to the seashore, share home-prepared picnic lunch with other families, swim and play games on the beach, though the grey clouds and cold wind of early afternoon were discouraging. 
 
 
Nonetheless,  a number of macho guys and a lot of children took no heed of the cold water and dipped in wildly ! For these,  sporting  swimwear was an opportunity to show off one’s muscles and strike poses for public admiration. Other adults preferred to use the beach front and fresh air as an apt milieu for playing mahjong,  scattered ivories taking on the values of bridge cards and very much following the rules of bridge.
 
 
Water or sand or just playing around with copains and copines, children loved the free atmosphere of the beach. There were sand castles to build, games to play, snacks and drinks all day long. Cramped in restricting parisian apartments all year long, the wide open beaches were a most welcome venue.


 
The excursion was efficiently organized by the Damas de Rizal in collaboration with the Paris and Dimasalang île de France Chapters of the Knights of Rizal in Paris. Transport coordinator Tañada Jr. did an excellent job or coordinating the buses and ensuring everyone a seat.
 

The ladies –and some of the male chefs, like Sir  Hernan Tañada, Sr.--showed off their native cooking with banana wrapped suman, rellenong bangus, several varieties of adobo, long stewed goto, bibingka, banana cake and a special lechon !.


 
 
Around 6 PM, we started packing up and walking towards the buses, hoping to beat the Sunday night traffic if we left by 7PM.
 
It was a long day, tiring but refreshing. Said Sir Mat Ara, KCR, Commander of the Paris Chapter, ‘This was a great opportunity for bonding among Knights and Damas, we shall start a new tradition with family day !’

According to sir Bernard Pot, KCR, Deputy Commander of the Dimasalang île de France Chapter, ‘It was a  very good moment of brotherhood.’

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Historical Note:
Ouistreham: An historic site for France
The Normandy landings, June 6^th, 1944
Compiled by Sir Bernard Pot, KCR
 
 
The theatre of operations

 
 
Liberation
 
Ouistreham is an Historic French battlesite  of World War II. On  6 June 1944, the Allied Forces landed in Normandy Coast at various points to the west of Ouistreham. 
 
Though hardly a footnote in most history books, and perhaps a less glamorous story than the bloody landing of the Americans at Omaha and Utah beaches, Ouistreham is where the Free French Army of General Charles de Gaulle began the Liberation of France. Under the command of Major Philippe Kiefer, the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commando (1^st Battalion of  Marine Commandos) liberated the city of Ouistreham and met up with the other allies to continue their mission.
 

        
Two troops comprise the 177 Frenchmen of the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commando. Their mission was to clear the Riva-Bella coastal sector and then, marching through enemy territory, link-up with the paratroopers of the 6^th Airborne holding the Orne bridgehead.
 
As soon as they set foot on the soil of France, the Kieffer Commandos faced a fierce German defence and were stricken by crossfire from the bunkers. But the beach had to be crossed at all costs in order to regroup near the ruin of a holiday camp where they lay down their rucksacks before going on with their mission. The first troops of this mission were killed in the water and on the beach.
 
During 4 hours, the men of Commando 4 fight in the streets of Riva Bella to take over the German trenches, bunkers and snipers. The Casino, transformed into a pillbox, fell at 9h30 a.m. with help from a Sherman commandeered by Major Philippe Kieffer.
 
After a brief respite, the men of Commando 4 took the Colleville road around 1 p.m. and headed for the east side of the Orne River. They crossed the Canal and the Orne River at Bénouville and, at the end of the day, they dug in at Le Plein where they were supposed to be relieved within 8 days but they remained there for 8 weeks.
 
At the end of the day, the 1^er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commando suffered 41 killed and wounded.
 
French Kieffer Commando within sight of the coast of Ouistreham
 
French Kieffer Commando landing on Sword Beach (Ouistreham)
 
French Kieffer Commando beginning the Liberation of France
 

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