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bwan River Valley and AreaD-Day, 60years laterMike FraserSWAN VAUIY STAR AVI)ibcFor many, it believe that 60I since the infamous D-is hard to years haveJune 6. 1944, was the day Allied troops invaded the beaches of Normandy in France to liberate Europe from Germany in the Second World War. a Journey entitledMOperation Overlord Many coiconsider this day and invasion the turning point for the Allied troops, which eventually caused the surrender of the Germans and all but ended Adolf Hitler's hope of a Nazi-controlled Europe. In essence, the invasion marked the beginning of the end for Hitler's Nazi empire.Bruce EifFcrt, Bcmic Mach and Ted Shadbolt each played a role in the invasion. The three former military servicemen each reside in S River.iffert, 82. was bom inthought I should go to.”Eiffert came back to Valley in November. 1945.I couldn't gel home fast enough, it was great to get out of there, EifTcrt said, adding he has never been back to the D-Day site since.‘ost of Mach's missions throughout • the Second World War were in the air.Mach. 86. was a fighter pilot for the Polish Air Force who began his training in Poland in 1939, shortly before the beginning of the Second World War.Shortly thereailcr. German and Russian forces attacked Poland from each side, forcing local residents out of their own country.Mach. who was at one time an accountant in the ' headed for Romania .was to cover the landing of Allied expeditionary forces in Europe.Citing a previous Star and Times article written in 1994 about Mach, he remembered D-Day as a beautiful, clear day. He also remembered Allied forces dropping, by parachute, out of planes over the beaches of Normandy. It also states Mach recalls flying through the crossfire between Allied ships at sea and German tanks on shore.“They made sure those ps were as safe as | f they saw GermanFtedroptanks they would bombs, Kicrzck said.His skills did not go unnoticed by the Polish military, as he was awarded numerousGunner with the 19th Self Propelled Artillcrv.I originally joined the 21 Field but was moved to tf 19th. said Shadbolt. wh worked for the government i a caretaker for the post offlc for 30 years before retiring i 1985. 'i was in charge of good crew of seven people.”Shadbolt trained and waite for almost three years I England before joining the ba tie. He did share a few meme ries of D-Day.“I was on the beach at 7:3 in the morning.” he said. * remember spending the nigl in a big white house...I had lot my gun and crew when we raup against a cement wall an couldn't go orgo any further, very fortunate Lord was withstationed With France's collapse forthcoming. Mach wav itam mbcrSwan RiverFiffert was on the ground when the Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy.A pan of the Ihird Division.Seventh Brigade of the Canadian Scottish Regiment,Eiffen does not remember much about D-Day aside from the countless battles and dangerous environment.I remember it being awful wet and awful scary,” said EilTert, referting to the beaches of Normandy.“We had to run through about three or four feet of w ater because the landing craft couldn't get m too close.Eiflert. who has worked in construction.in a creamery, Ted Shadbolt /Wlt; VtaA and Bruce Effirt recalland has 10 _years of aerv-ice with the Swan Valley School Division, trained at Fort William in Ihunder Bay.Ont.. as well as in Shilo. He also had a stint in Nova Scotia before heading overseas.Eiffert disembarked from Halifax in February, 1944. on his way to England. Unlike vicemen, Eiflert did a lot of time training beforeone of the most important dates from the Second World War -Sm end Times graphic by Andrew PrmNo.other points ofle major battle I didn'tveryto waitlong. he said. I know guys had to wait four or five years, maybe even longer before they had to do any thing “I only had to wait about four or five months.”Eiflert still has a pay book, in which he kept entries of his various day* at war overseas. Dn D-Day, Eiflcrfs pay book simply states disembarked France.”Like many at the time. Eiffert had no idea what he was gening into on D-Day.“I had no idea what was lt;oing on.” said Eiffert. “We ust did what tve were told.” Eiffert said he decided to oin the military becausewas going so Ialso u part of 303 and 317 at the war.Mach. who was born in Lwow, Poland, only has a few memories remaining from those days His nephew. Chris Kicrzek from Calgary, listened to many of Mach’s stories over the years, and still remembers most ol themMach still has his flying log book, which accounts for every mission foe which he look part. Looking through the pages, countless records of bombings and shootings dominate the book.“I remember him telling me they went after a lot of transport planes and he did a lot of combat fighting,” said Kicrzek, who was preparing to take Mach to Poland for a month to visit family members.“I also know it was important for them to cut off the German's supply line.” According to Mach’s log book, he had I. hours throi World War.On D-Day Mach’smedals of honour.Kicrzek said Mach is looking forward to visiting Poland again. He has not been there in more than 12 years.(Mach) is very well known in Swan River and he still keeps in touch with a lot of friends from the war days.” Kicrzek said.” Hiis will be the first time in 65 years for him that he will celebrate his birthdav in Poland.”Kicrzek said despite Mach having only a few from the war remain remains proud of h plishmcnts and being a pan of the Air Force.Following D-Day. Mach was stationed in Belgium, which made it easier to complete missions in France and Germany. In 1956, Mach was married in Winnipeg moving to the Valley.MachLike Eiffert, Shadbolt did not realize what was taking place.”1 was scared,” he said. “I didn't realize we were in it. We weren't told where we going to and what we going to do.”I remember a path the beach and a wired fence. There was a Major carrying people off and I remember going to a fence and the snipers shooting at us,” Shadbolt said.Fc covered!The Netherlands before ending up in Oldenburg. Germany.Shadbolt has also not re-via-Following D-Day, Shadbolt 'ercd Belgium, Holland and,144nsaShadbolt, like many, docs not want to share many memories of D-Day or the rest of the Shadbolt. who hased to go back but never got around to it,” said Shadbolt I didn't know if I could afford it and never thought too much about it, but perhaps 1 should have.With 2004 being the 60th anniversary of D-Day. the three local residents rememberthe Valley his entire life except during his six years of military a First (. lassonly a few details from the war; however, their contribo-will always be remcm-
Newspaper Details
Swan Valley Star and Times
Swan River, Manitoba, CA
Tue, Jun 01, 2004
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Susan L.
CA 05 Jan 2017
Other Publications Near Swan River, Manitoba
Swan River Star
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