Hidden by the Fog of War, to use an oft repeated cliche, are stories that are strange, miraculous and moving. As today is the 66th anniversary of D-Day, I thought I would share a story that moves me.
In 1994, I had the good fortune to be sent on assignment to cover the 50th anniversary of D-Day. I visited many of the great commemorative events and also had time to make private visits to many of the major war cemeteries.
At Ranville Cemetery, I photographed the graves of many of those who died on the first day of the invasion. One such grave was that of Private Emile Servais Corteil - Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps, aged 19. His headstone is inscribed with some words provided by his parents and what was written shocked me:
Had you know our son,
You would have loved him too.
Glen, his Paratroop Dog
Was killed with him
I checked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Debt of Honour website which records that Glen was killed at his side and . . . buried with him. I don't know the circumstances of their deaths, but am greatly moved. They died together and remain together.
That's a very unusual marker stone indeed... I wonder if there is somewhere such stories can be found ? The tragedy and the waste... You must have been looking very carefully indeed to notice the additional text at the bottom of the stone...
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