To my sisters and I Remembrance Sunday brings back memories of our late father, Derrick Tysoe, proudly wearing his World War II medals at various remembrance events throughout the year. He described himself as a ‘D Day wallah’; a reference to the fact that, as a young man aged just nineteen, he landed on Gold Beach, Normandy on 6th June 1944, as a private with the Durham Light Infantry.
Dad did not speak about his experiences to his family, but from the early 1980’s onwards, he channelled his energies in to the Normandy Veterans Association [NVA]. He was a founder member of what was to become a nationally recognised organisation. He travelled all over the country to meet other D Day veterans and set up local branches of the NVA and was instrumental in organising the national celebrations for both the 50th and the 60th anniversary of D Day.
He was involved in ensuring a permanent NVA memorial at the National Arboretum and for many years he went to Normandy with the NVA in June, to remember their comrades. In 2004 he was awarded the ‘Legion d’Honneur’ medal by the French government in recognition of his work with the National Council of the NVA.
Until he became too unwell to attend, he marched with many others at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday. Latterly he stood proudly with his neighbours at the War Memorial in the centre of the village.
In short, he was a private man who wore his medals and poppy with pride.