"Young lads from Salford went first" - How men from the city shaped D-Day landings
Welcome to the first Salford Now newsletter, featuring the biggest stories from around the city this week – including original journalism about Salford.
This week, we're sharing an amazing story about the experiences of one young man from Ordsall who stormed the Normandy beaches on D-Day.
We also have a round-up of news and sport from across the city, some cultural highlights and the top line on the General Election in Salford.
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A Salford man and the D-Day landings 80 years ago
It's now been six days since the anniversary of the D-Day landings, but we wanted to share this amazing feature on the important role men from Salford played in the Normandy landings 80 years ago.
Philip said he “couldn’t imagine how dreadful” his great uncle felt 80 years ago today at the D-Day landings.
His uncle Joseph Cavanah was one of the first to land on the Normandy beaches 80 years ago today in 1944.
Joe, born in 1918 and from Ordsall, was a member of the South Lancashire Regiment who served as the assault battalion for one of the biggest operations in military history.
“I got like shivers up my spine,” said Philip Duval, 43, from Stretford, who recalls discovering the shocking information at The Lancashire Infantry Museum in Preston.
The South Lancashire Regiment recruited from the townships of Warrington and Saint Helens but not many people know they recruited from Salford and Manchester too.
“I don’t think many people realise that (some of) these lads were recruited from Salford and were the first to go into (the D-Day landings),” said Philip. “Normally you expect the commandos to go in first but it wasn’t, it was these young lads from Salford.”
“I think the people of Salford should know their ancestors played this role. I’ve always had a feeling that the people of Salford deserve their recognition.”
Joe was 21 years old when he was conscripted into the army on December 15 in 1939.
Philip added: “He would of been in the army for four and a half years before he’d actually seen action and apparently they were as fit as a fiddle, they’d rehearsed loads of times.”
On June 6 Joe landed on a section of Sword Beach called the Queen White at around 7.20am.
The ‘South Lancs’ troops landed directly opposite a German strong point, which led to multiple casualties and the commanding officer being shot dead.
Rising tides and the geography of the assault area created a narrow front, causing congestion and further delays, making it very difficult to land the armoured support needed for the advance inland.
Despite losing the commanding officer and well over 100 other casualties, the troops made good progress through the well-prepared German beach defences and pressed inland to capture Hermanville by 9am.
Joe managed to survive the horrific D-Day landing but never really spoke about it again.
Philip said: “When I was a kid I knew he’d fought in Normandy but never really wanted to ask too much about it.
My mother said he’d been wounded and that the man who was next to him (on one side or the other) got shot in the head, so obviously it was pretty hard and a pretty difficult experience.”
“My mother said he’d been wounded and that the man who was next to him (on one side or the other) got shot in the head, so obviously it was pretty hard and a pretty difficult experience.”
A couple of weeks later Joe, who served as a corporal at the time, led his section towards a French city, Caen.
The South Lancs were heavily engaged in the initial British thrust towards Caen, with particularly heavy fighting and many casualties on June 22-23 and June 26 against strong enemy positions around Le Londel.
Joe led his section through “quite high cornfields” which they had to crawl through as the Germans held snipers up in the surrounding trees.
“And that’s where my uncle got shot basically,” said Philip.
“He got two bullets in his lower back from a sniper up in the trees. So that was him then, he was brought back to England.
“The family got a telegram and the telegram initially said head injuries.”
For this reason, Joe’s wife didn’t know what state he would be in when she visited Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Oxfordshire.
Joe’s wife was eventually relieved to find out her husband was fine mentally but was equally shocked to discover he may never walk again due to his spinal injuries.
Luckily for Joe, he was in the hands of the world-class neurologist, Dr Ludwig Guttmann.
Dr Guttmann was a pioneer in spinal surgeries at the time and Joe was able to walk again under his care.
The neurologist also set up a sporting event for wounded, disabled soldiers like Joe, which later became known as the Paralympics.
The Jewish doctor, who fled Nazi Germany just before the start of the Second World War, became a founding father of organised sport for people with disabilities through the Stoke Mandeville Games.
After leaving hospital, Joe got a job repairing typewriters for the Italian company, Olivetti. Joe lived till he was 92 and passed away in 2010.
Philip admitted that he remains immensely proud of his uncle Joe.
“You can’t help but feel something, if I ever get the chance to say it, I’ll tell people because it’s such a historic thing,” said Philip.
“D-Day I would say was the biggest operation in military history and to be literally just at the tip of the spear you just can’t imagine.
“You can’t imagine how they must have felt getting into the landing crafts, how dreadful they must have felt heading to that beach.”
News and sport in Salford this week
Over 1,100 residents object to plans for new neighbourhood in Boothstown
Over 1,100 residents have objected to plans for a new neighbourhood as they believe it would "add to the already congested roads" and disrupt the wildlife in the area. Click here to read more.
Police apologise for wrongful conviction as BBC documentary airs
Greater Manchester Police said they are “truly sorry” for wrongfully convicting a man to 17 years in prison for the rape of a woman in Salford. Click here to read more.
Heather Small and Louisa Johnson to headline Salford Pride
The voice of M People Heather Small and X-Factor winner Louisa Johnson will be headlining this year’s Pink Picnic at Peel Park. Click here to read more.
Sporting director Ian Blease leaves Salford Red Devils
The sporting director Ian Blease has left Salford Red Devils to take up an opportunity at Leeds Rhinos. Click here to read more.
‘What’s On’ in Salford this week
🎭 - The We Invented the Weekend festival will takes place over the Father’s Day weekend (June 15-16) at MediaCity this week. Click here to find out more.
🤝 - Carers in Salford have been invited take part in a range of free activities this week in order to celebrate their dedication. Click here to find out more.
⛓️ - The Kings Arms will feature a night of short plays centred around themes of crime and punishment from June 11-13. Click here to find out more.
Our photo of the week
An image of David Teacher, a 100-year-old D-Day veteran who died at Broughton House Care Village in Salford.
David, who served as a mechanic with the RAF in the Second World War, died less than a fortnight before the 80th anniversary of the landings on Friday May 24.
As well as fixing broken down vehicles, he worked with his squadron to take control of all equipment, including food and ammunition, and ensure troops arriving went through designated safe areas.
Click here to read more.
General election candidates announced for Salford
A total of 15 parliamentary candidates are standing in the general election for Salford’s two constituencies. One important development is that Labour’s Barbara Keeley, who served as the Member of Parliament for Worsley and Eccles South since 2005, is stepping down.
Returning officer Tom Stannard said: “Salford candidates have now been announced for the General Election and I encourage all residents to vote. The voter registration deadline is Tuesday June 18. It’s easy to register and can now be completed online.
“It only takes five minutes and your national insurance number. Find out more at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and make sure you have your say.”
Click here to see who the candidates are.
It’s going to be cloudy in Salford this week
🌧️ - The weather in Salford is looking mostly cloudy this week with the occasional shower from Thursday through till Sunday.
🌥️ - A few sunny intervals are still possible although it is still expected to be breezy and cool.
Thank you for reading
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