- Welcome
- Important notice
- About the author
- About this site
- Site guide + Search box
- Dedications
- Acknowledgments
- My personal pantheon (of the great and the good in survey research)
- Recent and planned activities
- Textbooks for Research Methods and Data Analysis
- 1: Survey Analysis Workshop (SPSS)
- 1a: Statistical concepts and methods
- 1b: Teaching with Survey Data
- 1c: Developing research projects using survey data
- 1d: Workshop and presentations for ASSESS (SPSS users in Europe)
- 2: Survey Research Practice
- 2a: Survey Research Methodology, Practice and Training
- 2b: Major survey series
- 3: Subjective Social Indicators (Quality of Life)
- 4: Survey Unit, Social Science Research Council (UK)
- 5a: Polytechnic of North London (1976-1992)
- 5b: Survey Research Unit (1978-1992)
- Village life in Normandy
- Contact
- Origins of the British Crime Survey
- British Crime Survey
Liberation (July 1944)
Notre Dame de Cenilly was liberated on 27 July 1944 by troops of the US 2nd Armored Division
Celebrations are held every year with re-enactments by local villagers, rallies of WW2 vehicles and visits by (surviving) veterans and their families. On this date each year, ceremonies are held to lay wreaths commemorating those killed in the battle and to celebrate the end of Nazi occupation.
Liberation celebrations (July 2006)
In July 2006 a special contingent of four Stewart tanks was brought over from the USA, one of which carried a Patton lookalike. These complemented other WW2 vehicles contributed by various French and UK collectors.
Liberation celebrations (70th anniversary, 2014, St-Lô)
Visit of US 2nd Armored Division veterans (2 Sep 2009)
On Wednesday 2 September 2009 we had a visit by nine veterans who were part of the US 2nd Armored Division and their families. The visit formed part of the 65th Anniversary Veterans Liberation Tour in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and was the last formal event of the tour. The day consisted of a procession from the Mairie to the church, a short commemorative speech, laying of wreaths in the presence of a military Guard of Honour and a formal parade from the church to the Salle des Fêtes (the only one in the canton large enough to accommodate everyone!) followed by lunch for 270 people, including 21 Brits who either live, or have second homes, in the area
Liberation celebrations 2014 contains a video clip of the firework display taken by our grandson Joe Sandford-Hughes, great grandson of Joe Hughes who was parachuted into Normandy with 9 Para before midnight on June 5th 1944 for the attack on the Franceville-Merville gun battery (simultaneous with the raid on Pegasus Bridge) He was one of only 75 men who was not either killed or wounded.
Unveiling of new monument (13 June 2015)
On Saturday 13 June 2015 a new monument was unveiled in Notre Dame de Cenilly in memory of more than 50 soldiers of the US 2nd Armored Division killed during the battle to liberate this and other local villages between 27 and 29 July 1944. There was a parade from the Mairie to the churchyard where accounts of the battle were given in French and English, the names of those killed were read out and wreaths laid in their memory. After anthems were played, the band led everyone to a replica military camp where the usual vin d'honneur was served.
Field hospital in N D de Cenilly
In July 1944 a temporary field hospital was set up behind the farm known as La Noslière by Captain Ralph Schwartz of C Company, 48th Armored Medical Battalion. On 29 July the hospital; was attached with anti-personnel bombs. For bravery in protecting his patients and treating the wounded, Capt Scwartz was awarded the Silver Star. On 6 July 2015, his nephew Dr Andy Schwartz and his wife Amy visited the farm at La Noslière and were shown the site of the field hospital.
Re-enactment camp at Gavray 2015
On 11 July there was a re-enactment military camp in Gavray presented by a local club which owns, collects and restores WW2 vehicles, tents and equiopment. The club commemorates and celebrates the US 2nd Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") which liberated local villages, but sustained many casualties including more than 50 killed.
Celebrations are held every year with re-enactments by local villagers, rallies of WW2 vehicles and visits by (surviving) veterans and their families. On this date each year, ceremonies are held to lay wreaths commemorating those killed in the battle and to celebrate the end of Nazi occupation.
Liberation celebrations (July 2006)
In July 2006 a special contingent of four Stewart tanks was brought over from the USA, one of which carried a Patton lookalike. These complemented other WW2 vehicles contributed by various French and UK collectors.
Liberation celebrations (70th anniversary, 2014, St-Lô)
Visit of US 2nd Armored Division veterans (2 Sep 2009)
On Wednesday 2 September 2009 we had a visit by nine veterans who were part of the US 2nd Armored Division and their families. The visit formed part of the 65th Anniversary Veterans Liberation Tour in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and was the last formal event of the tour. The day consisted of a procession from the Mairie to the church, a short commemorative speech, laying of wreaths in the presence of a military Guard of Honour and a formal parade from the church to the Salle des Fêtes (the only one in the canton large enough to accommodate everyone!) followed by lunch for 270 people, including 21 Brits who either live, or have second homes, in the area
Liberation celebrations 2014 contains a video clip of the firework display taken by our grandson Joe Sandford-Hughes, great grandson of Joe Hughes who was parachuted into Normandy with 9 Para before midnight on June 5th 1944 for the attack on the Franceville-Merville gun battery (simultaneous with the raid on Pegasus Bridge) He was one of only 75 men who was not either killed or wounded.
Unveiling of new monument (13 June 2015)
On Saturday 13 June 2015 a new monument was unveiled in Notre Dame de Cenilly in memory of more than 50 soldiers of the US 2nd Armored Division killed during the battle to liberate this and other local villages between 27 and 29 July 1944. There was a parade from the Mairie to the churchyard where accounts of the battle were given in French and English, the names of those killed were read out and wreaths laid in their memory. After anthems were played, the band led everyone to a replica military camp where the usual vin d'honneur was served.
Field hospital in N D de Cenilly
In July 1944 a temporary field hospital was set up behind the farm known as La Noslière by Captain Ralph Schwartz of C Company, 48th Armored Medical Battalion. On 29 July the hospital; was attached with anti-personnel bombs. For bravery in protecting his patients and treating the wounded, Capt Scwartz was awarded the Silver Star. On 6 July 2015, his nephew Dr Andy Schwartz and his wife Amy visited the farm at La Noslière and were shown the site of the field hospital.
Re-enactment camp at Gavray 2015
On 11 July there was a re-enactment military camp in Gavray presented by a local club which owns, collects and restores WW2 vehicles, tents and equiopment. The club commemorates and celebrates the US 2nd Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") which liberated local villages, but sustained many casualties including more than 50 killed.