| Every person alive today owes a debt of gratitude | | | | soldiers who landed were just wiped out - it was |
| to the brave men and women, who served in World | | | | carnage." |
| War Two. Many sacrificed their lives, others were | | | | |
| maimed and injured in battle, or on the home front. | | | | Later in 1944, he was recruited to help deliver the |
| St Dunstans is a charity founded in 1915, to help blind | | | | supplies of white crosses for the military cemetery in |
| and visually impaired ex-servicemen to re-build their | | | | the Rhône valley commemorating those lost during |
| lives. Below is the life experience of Fred Ward. One | | | | heavy conflicts in the region. The crosses stand now |
| of the many ex-servicemen and women,who have | | | | as a permanent reminder of the men who died there. |
| benefited from the kind generosity of the people | | | | The Rhône cemetery was one of the first military |
| who support St Dunstans. | | | | cemeteries for the Second World War. |
| | | | | |
| Fred Ward joined the Maritime Royal Artillery at the | | | | Fred is losing his sight to glaucoma and became a St |
| beginning of the Second World War, aged 18. | | | | Dunstaner in 2003. The progressive degeneration of |
| | | | | his eyesight had a massive impact on his life. He was |
| On 6th June 1944, Fred took part in the D-Day | | | | unable to read, write or watch TV, or even keep up |
| landings, bringing supplies by landing craft to his Allied | | | | his two main hobbies, leading a rambling group and |
| comrades on Omaha Beach. | | | | photography. However, thanks to St Dunstan's, |
| | | | | Fred's life has been turned around. |
| "We sailed from Barry Docks on the SS Rando, a | | | | |
| converted collier loaded with supplies for the | | | | "They taught me practical skills, like how to walk with |
| American troops on Omaha Beach. We made good | | | | a cane. But, more than that, I've realised how much |
| headway and were able to offload our cargo on to | | | | their encouragement has done for me. I've stuck |
| Omaha Beach, make a quick turnaround to pick up | | | | with the photography and my group likes to boast of |
| more stores, and then head back to the beaches, | | | | their blind photographer! And with the special CCTV |
| making six trips to Utah Beach as well. I remember | | | | unit that magnifies images and documents, I can read |
| the sound of enemy fire; it was overwhelming." | | | | maps again. St Dunstan's have helped me regain my |
| | | | | independence and enthusiasm for life." |
| Fred was actually signed on as Merchant Navy crew | | | | |
| on the supplies ship, although he was operating as an | | | | After reading about Fred Ward`s life. Don`t you feel |
| Orlicken gunner with the Maritime Royal Artillery. His | | | | proud that our country had such brave and |
| role was to pack the cordite into the guns and he | | | | courageous men in it`s darkest day`s. I know I felt a |
| slept in a hammock under the gun pit while working | | | | little ashamed of my own petty credit crunch worries |
| on the ship. | | | | and problems in life. Because they don`t seem so bad |
| | | | | after all, compared to the struggles of people like |
| As Fred helped unload the cargo on the beaches he | | | | Fred. If you want to help people like Fred. There is a |
| witnessed the true horror of the landings. Those | | | | link to the St Dunstan`s donation web-page below. |
| images are imprinted on his mind forever. | | | | Please give generously. I thank you in advance for |
| | | | | your kind generosity. |
| "I saw the worst casualties - the first two waves of | | | | |