The expressive, passionate and charismatic David Warren. A friend and source of knowledge to all involved with Le Paradis Pilgrimages
The Extraordinary Conversation between David Warren (Leger Tour Guide) and John Head in
May 2005.
In 2005, I was on a Leger Great War Battlefield Tour led by their tour guide David Warren. As the coach left the ferry and we passed signs to Dunkirk, David explained that he had taken this tour on owing to the unavailability of the usual guide owing to illness. David explained that he primarily specialised in the Second World War and was interested if any of the pilgrims on the coach had any associations with Dunkirk. There was a negative response.
Later that evening I approached David who was at our hotel bar in Menin. I explained that I was reluctant to talk on the coach as it was apparent that all interest was focused on The Great War. However, I thought he would be interested to know that my friend, from school days, was a member of the Dunkirk Veterans Association (DVA). David challenged this by stating that my friend would have been far too young to be a member of the DVA. I clarified this by stating that my friend was actually an honorary member of the DVA, his name being Dennis O’Callaghan whose father, Bill O’Callaghan, survived the massacre at Le Paradis.
On mentioning this David stared at me, his face losing all colour as he placed his hand on my arm and asked me to repeat what I had just said to him. I complied.
David then went on to relive an incident which happened a month previous when he advised tour members on his coach that the next day they would be traveling to the Memorial Gardens at Esquelbecq (Wormhoult) and visit the barn where the 2nd Battalion The Royal Warwicks were massacred on 28th June, 1940.
From the coach came a male voice requesting David to go to Le Paradis first. David replied stating that this would be impossible as everyone on the coach had ‘signed-up’ to an agreed itinerary from which he could not deviate that far. Later on in the afternoon the person who requested this deviation was taken ill on the coach (later diagnosed as an angina attack). His female companion, whom David thought was his wife, turned out to be his nurse. Feeling sorry for the person, David ‘read up’ on Le Paradis overnight and, with that person declared fit to travel the next day, David gave a brief talk on Le Paradis upon arriving at Esquelbecq.
On departing from Esquelbecq the person concerned spoke to David personally, thanking him profusely for mentioning Le Paradis and, on stating that he had not long to live, firmly placed a book in David’s hands uttering the words "Never, ever forget Le Paradis”. Things happened too quickly for David to record the person’s name but, after telling me this story, David again looked me straight in the eye and said "and you are standing in front of me now saying that you are friends with the son of a survivor of the Le Paradis Massacre?" I answered, again, in the affirmative. The book David received was ‘The Vengeance of Private Pooley’ and it was believed the person concerned came from Scotland (a Royal Scots connection?).
From this incident I had pleasure in introducing David Warren to Dennis O’Callaghan. David then continued to support us by undertaking tireless work in concentrating on the "Fighting Retreat" of the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolks from the Dyle Line to Le Paradis including every place where a member of the Royal Norfolks fell. This formed the basis of our Pilgrimage in 2010. David has remained actively involved with us ever since and we thank him for his expertise, professionalism and the overall time he has afforded us during his busy schedule as a Leger Tour Guide. We have also enjoyed his humour and entertainment.
John E Head
Below are just some of the images featuring David Warren from the 2010 pilgrimage.
May 2005.
In 2005, I was on a Leger Great War Battlefield Tour led by their tour guide David Warren. As the coach left the ferry and we passed signs to Dunkirk, David explained that he had taken this tour on owing to the unavailability of the usual guide owing to illness. David explained that he primarily specialised in the Second World War and was interested if any of the pilgrims on the coach had any associations with Dunkirk. There was a negative response.
Later that evening I approached David who was at our hotel bar in Menin. I explained that I was reluctant to talk on the coach as it was apparent that all interest was focused on The Great War. However, I thought he would be interested to know that my friend, from school days, was a member of the Dunkirk Veterans Association (DVA). David challenged this by stating that my friend would have been far too young to be a member of the DVA. I clarified this by stating that my friend was actually an honorary member of the DVA, his name being Dennis O’Callaghan whose father, Bill O’Callaghan, survived the massacre at Le Paradis.
On mentioning this David stared at me, his face losing all colour as he placed his hand on my arm and asked me to repeat what I had just said to him. I complied.
David then went on to relive an incident which happened a month previous when he advised tour members on his coach that the next day they would be traveling to the Memorial Gardens at Esquelbecq (Wormhoult) and visit the barn where the 2nd Battalion The Royal Warwicks were massacred on 28th June, 1940.
From the coach came a male voice requesting David to go to Le Paradis first. David replied stating that this would be impossible as everyone on the coach had ‘signed-up’ to an agreed itinerary from which he could not deviate that far. Later on in the afternoon the person who requested this deviation was taken ill on the coach (later diagnosed as an angina attack). His female companion, whom David thought was his wife, turned out to be his nurse. Feeling sorry for the person, David ‘read up’ on Le Paradis overnight and, with that person declared fit to travel the next day, David gave a brief talk on Le Paradis upon arriving at Esquelbecq.
On departing from Esquelbecq the person concerned spoke to David personally, thanking him profusely for mentioning Le Paradis and, on stating that he had not long to live, firmly placed a book in David’s hands uttering the words "Never, ever forget Le Paradis”. Things happened too quickly for David to record the person’s name but, after telling me this story, David again looked me straight in the eye and said "and you are standing in front of me now saying that you are friends with the son of a survivor of the Le Paradis Massacre?" I answered, again, in the affirmative. The book David received was ‘The Vengeance of Private Pooley’ and it was believed the person concerned came from Scotland (a Royal Scots connection?).
From this incident I had pleasure in introducing David Warren to Dennis O’Callaghan. David then continued to support us by undertaking tireless work in concentrating on the "Fighting Retreat" of the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolks from the Dyle Line to Le Paradis including every place where a member of the Royal Norfolks fell. This formed the basis of our Pilgrimage in 2010. David has remained actively involved with us ever since and we thank him for his expertise, professionalism and the overall time he has afforded us during his busy schedule as a Leger Tour Guide. We have also enjoyed his humour and entertainment.
John E Head
Below are just some of the images featuring David Warren from the 2010 pilgrimage.