Soon after D-Day (Normandy 1944), two non-combatant German stretcher bearers wandered into our lines. They asked us to allow them to continue saving lives. Their wish was granted as the casualty rate was so high, with hardly any British stretcher bearers left. The two Germans worked on for thirty-six hours non-stop through some of the most heaviest bombardments. There are no monuments or plaques to them, but they are not forgotten - many front line troops, British and German owe their lives to those exceptionally brave men. In the heat of battle we failed to get their names. As the sixtieth anniversary approaches I will be very grateful if you could kindly dedicate MASCAGNI'S CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA to them, on Tuesday 4th May which happens to be my son, Chris, birthday. He is named after my best friend, Donald Christopher (known to us as Chris) who was with me in the Front Line Intelligence Section of the 2nd Devonshire Regiment. We were amongst the first to land on D-Day, Jig Section of Gold Beach, June 6th 1944.
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I will be extremely grateful if you could kindly read this out on Tuesday 4th May as it means so much and never fails to move me when I think of the dedication those unarmed, non-combatant men had to saving life. Thank you in anticipation,
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David J Powis
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The following request was sent to Classic FM in Britain and ABC Classic FM in Australia. Unfortunately it was not read out or played in Britain, but our request has been granted in Australia. Bob Maynard of ABC Classic FM has kindly sent the following email: Dear David, Thanks again for your request, which arrived after the program for 4th May had been prepared. The Mascagni Intermezzo will be broadcast next Friday (4th June),
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as close as I can get to the D-Day Anniversary.
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Kind regards.
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Bob Maynard
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Please Press Here to return to “Our 60th Anniversary D-Day Broadcasts.” Page.
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