IT has been a long time since Australind war veteran Tom Lofthouse visited the coast of Normandy.
An RAAF Air Gunner in World War II, the 90-year-old is the only Western Australian war veteran to visit Normandy as part of a Department of Veterans Affairs delegation to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
A total of eight Australian veterans were selected for their service during the pivotal June 6 1944 landings.
The delegation left Sydney on June 2 on-route for Paris, before they will make their way to Normandy for a series of commemoration ceremonies.
The trip is Mr Lofthouse’s first since blasting coastal guns and railway yards as a Rear Gunner on D-Day, described as the “beginning of the end” of World War II.
Mr Longhouse said it would be strange to return for a sightseeing trip.
“We saw it a lot different to what it is,” Mr Lofthouse said.
“It’ll look a bit different of course, we saw it at a pretty low level, but we weren’t sightseeing.”
He had a vivid recollection of the fateful day.
“The main thing I can remember is straight after we bombed the coastal guns the British warships moved in and bombed the coast, it was extraordinary.”
“It wasn't a very dangerous mission for us, but it was for the Australian’s on the beach.”
He said it was a common misconception that no Australians landed at Normandy.
“Well, Australians did land there, and many of them are probably still there.”
Mr Lofthouse was discharged in March 1946 at the rank of Flying Officer.
Upon his return to Australia, he recommenced his pre-war employment as a survey hand.
He has remained involved in Anzac and Remembrance Day services, leading the Brunswick Parade for several years.
“I think people still appreciate what we did – people are still attending Anzac services and I think they do realise it was a battle for survivable and there’s no doubt that if we weren't successful we would have be occupied by Japanese now.”
Mr Lofthouse has since retired as march leader but proudly dons his medals for services each year.
