BUDEHAVEN students have been recognised from the Rangers Association in America for paying individual tribute to the fallen.

They created two art projects for Remembrance commemorating all WWI and WWII soldiers from Bude, every parish in the surrounding area and making a special tribute to the American 2nd Battalion Rangers who trained on the local beaches for D-Day.

Headed up by English teacher Harry Pearce, who is the Royal British Legion house master at Budehaven, they laid a huge poppy net (size of a netball court) with hand written names of the fallen on white crosses, all displayed on Shalder Hill, in Bude.

Budehaven Remembers project finished on Remembrance Sunday when a sand art project called ‘The Fallen’ saw 1,000 human images etched in the sand to symbolise the fallen young men of WWI who died in the mud in ‘No Man’s Land’ and the fields of France and those who died in WWII, in particular the Normandy beaches on D-Day. The sand images were completed by 10am, and washed away as the tide came in. 

Clair Roberts, Bude at War community helper, said: “It is so important that all of us, especially young people, who are several generations removed from the stories told by our grandparents understand the value of the freedom we have today.”

Harry has been working in conjunction with Bude British Legion. The students were privileged to meet former Royal Marine, Alan Litchfield, now aged 97, who landed on Sword Beach on June 6, 1944. Accompanied by Dave Worth of the Bude Royal British Legion and a former Royal Marine, he shared his stories and was highly complimentary as the students laid the Poppy Wave.

As part of the school’s work on the Budehaven Remembers project, pupils have also looked into their family history and connections with WWI and WWII soldiers from Bude and are compiling the information into a book.

Mr Pearce told the Post: “This was part of our 11/11 challenge. It has been great to see the young people getting involved. Our main concern is that these stories will be lost if the younger generation don’t engage with them.

“It has been heart-warming to see how our pupils have engaged with this project though. We are hoping this stories will be compiled into a book in the future but this is in its early stages.”

On Remembrance Sunday pupils and their families came out in force to Summerleaze beach to take part in the sand art project and Mr Pearce said he was “proud” to have been a part of it.

“It was overwhelming to see so many pupils taking part. They all came out with their forks and created silhouettes in the sand,” he said. “Thank you to all who helped with this project.”

In response to the school’s work, Rick Scott, grandson of WWII Ranger Harold R. Sayre, HQ Company,  2nd Ranger Battalion (1921 – 1997), said: “I want to thank you and the students for remembering our beloved fallen 2nd Rangers and their time in Bude.  The White Crosses and Poppy Netting are a wonderful remembrance and tribute.

“My Grandfather Cpl Harold R Sayre, 2nd Ranger HQ Company volunteered to serve his country in 1942, and volunteered in ‘43 to become a Ranger. It was his proudest achievement. He stayed

in Bude with a wonderful lady named Mrs Watts. My grandmother told us of wonderful stories from communications with Mrs Watts, as they stayed in touch not only throughout the war but for a bit afterwards. I often wonder what happened to Mrs Watts and how her, and her family’s life went on post-war.

“My grandfather fought from D-Day arriving on Omaha Beach, and continued his work and fighting through the end of the war. He never spoke of the war much but when he did, in a story to me, it was those who didn’t make it. “They were the real heroes” were his words.

“We have learned so much of his time overseas since his passing in 1997.  I know he is smiling ear to ear at the thoughtfulness of yourself, Ms Claire, and your students.

“We must never forget these men. Thank you again so much for your wonderful remembrance of those who gave everything, so that we could have.”

For more Remembrance reports from your local area pick up this week’s Post (November 24)