Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
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| Source: Temporary Cemetery (database-memoire.eu) |
Today is the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Before the battle, as they always did, plans were made to bury the dead. Temporary cemeteries were planned and later constructed, not completely according to plan but according to what circumstances allowed. No one knew how bad it would be or exactly where it would be possible to bury the dead. That all depended upon how things went. What was most certain is that that there would be massive destruction and many young bodies to be buried.
Because of the excellent team work exhibited by both the U.S. Army’s Grave Registration Service and the Burial & Registration Command, only 3% of the 206 577 American soldiers killed in Europe remain unidentified.
In the interim, a temporary “Potter’s” field was employed. However, on June 7, 1944 the 3rd Platoon of the 607th Engineering Company, attached to a special Brigade of Engineers, succeeds in constructing a cemetery directly on the beach between Vierville and Saint Laurent on the Normandy landing site called “White Dog”.
Within 10 days, all are moved and reburied. It continues to receive a great number of bodies requiring burial, especially from the U.S. Army’s V Corps for which the cemetery is now named.
By June 26, 1944, at the stroke of midnight, 1 510 Americans are removed from this cemetery and permanently laid to rest at Saint-Laurent sur Mer, along with 48 of their Allies, and 606 Germans, for a total of 2 164 tombs.
Bodies were first buried on the beach, then three days later moved to a temporary cemetery and later to a permanent cemetery.
Repatriation letters didn't go out until 1947, and then, according to the wishes of the families, some bodies were returned to the states and buried in local cemeteries.
Here is the link for more about that.
Temporary Cemetery (database-memoire.eu)
It was a bad day at the beach for those who lost their lives, but there were also those tasked with taking care of the many bodies of the young men who lost their lives. That was undoubtedly a task that changed the men who did it for the rest of their lives.
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I received the following email from Sherman W.
Is that glue on the coin in the 1st pix? It came on a cardboard sheet with other repos with a short description. I found what looks to be the same coin on a sheet with 5 others in an attic. I thought they were real for the longest time. They either look too good for the age or are super thin. The cardboard deteriorated from the heat and left the coins.
Abe (AbeBooks | Shop for Books, Art & Collectibles)* is great I am there almost every day. I use it, World Cat and several other sites (I won't reveal) for research. As I stated before my treasure hunting is mostly online now. I just found The Rare Book Hub. Too bad they charge a membership fee. I may pay once just to check it out. Always learning.
Just for trivia. The Coca Cola Bottle Works of Fort Pierce was behind the theater there in downtown Fort Pierce. Right by the tracks for easy shipments. I found it on an old map.
Thanks Sherman.Bottling Plants | The Martin Guide to Vintage Coca-Cola Memorabilia / Price Guide (earlycoke.com)
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| Gold Charm Bracelet with Charms. |
This bracelet find has been around for some time. I never paid much attention to it because it seemed light and just didn't impress me as being gold. Yesterday I found out I was wrong. It is not unusual to be wrong, but nice to find out when you are.
I put the bracelet under the microscope and noticed all the 14K markings. Each charm, except one, is marked, but the marks are small and not easy to see. There is one charm that is not gold.
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| Gold Ship Charm. |
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| 14K Mark on Gold Ship Charm. |
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| 14K Mark on Gold Sailboat Charm. |
You can see that 14K mark on the lower left side of the sail.
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The surf will be low again. The tides will be pretty big, but the surf will remain small.
Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net