Local Hero

A while ago, Mike Herrmann of Austage End told me about a photograph that he thought local people would very much like to see.

When Mike emailed me the photo he said:

"I attach the image of Ernie, he drove the first lorry off the Mulberry Harbour at D Day and has a story to tell. He is a local hero"

Two Mulberry harbours (artificial, temporary harbours) were constructed for the D-Day Landings in 1944. They were prefabricated and then transported across the channel to Normandy. One was to have been used by British and Canadian forces and one by US forces. The US Mulberry was damaged too badly by storms to be used, so the British Mulberry, known as Mulberry B, was the only one left.

Supplies for the landings were brought ashore via the Mulberry harbour. This is the crucial operation in which Ernie played his part.

So here is Mr Ernie Cooper proudly wearing the medals he won during the Second World War. I believe the photo was taken last Remembrance Day.



Please click the photograph to view a slightly larger version.