Pilgrimages to Le Paradis
Over the past decade Dennis O'Callaghan and John Head have organised regular pilgrimages to La Paradis. Pictures and details of these visits can be viewed by clicking on the appropriate links below. We hope to add to these in the future.
The pilgrimages are inextricably linked to the Dunkirk Veterans' Association (DVA) of which Dennis O'Callaghan is an honorary member.
The DVA was formed in 1955 with the Norfolk and Norwich Branch, of which Bill O'Callaghan was a founder member. being inaugurated in 1961. In its heyday there have been up to 30,000 member of the DVA on parade at major events. The inaugural meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Branch of the DVA was held at the George and Dragon in Sprowston just outside Norwich before moving to its permanent meeting place at the Honingham Buck Public House at Honingham near Norwich.
The Le Paradis Pilgrimages began in 1963 and were initially fronted by Bill O'Callaghan, Major General Ashton Wade and Harold 'Robbie' Robinson ( General Secretary of the DVA at that time).
Dennis can remember up to 6,000 pilgrims and up to 50 coaches attending the commemorations.
In addition there have been many visits to the area by relatives of those involved. One such visit involved the interment of Bert Pooley's ashes which was reported in the Media:
"There were emotional scenes at the British War Cemetery in the tiny French village of Paradis, 25 miles from Dunkirk, where Private Pooley's dying wish that his ashes should be interred among his old comrades was carried out," one newspaper reported.
"The simple wooden casket was buried at the foot of the memorial erected to 95 of the 97 men who were massacred. More than 600 members of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association, their wives and friends, including relatives of some of those who were murdered, returned to the village to pay tribute to Mr Pooley.
"A frail figure of 79, Mme Creton stood with her 80-year-old husband and son Victor, now 51, together with Mrs Pooley who was accompanied by her two daughters Mrs Jeannette Hawkes and Mrs Patricia Haden and their husbands.
The pilgrimages are inextricably linked to the Dunkirk Veterans' Association (DVA) of which Dennis O'Callaghan is an honorary member.
The DVA was formed in 1955 with the Norfolk and Norwich Branch, of which Bill O'Callaghan was a founder member. being inaugurated in 1961. In its heyday there have been up to 30,000 member of the DVA on parade at major events. The inaugural meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Branch of the DVA was held at the George and Dragon in Sprowston just outside Norwich before moving to its permanent meeting place at the Honingham Buck Public House at Honingham near Norwich.
The Le Paradis Pilgrimages began in 1963 and were initially fronted by Bill O'Callaghan, Major General Ashton Wade and Harold 'Robbie' Robinson ( General Secretary of the DVA at that time).
Dennis can remember up to 6,000 pilgrims and up to 50 coaches attending the commemorations.
In addition there have been many visits to the area by relatives of those involved. One such visit involved the interment of Bert Pooley's ashes which was reported in the Media:
"There were emotional scenes at the British War Cemetery in the tiny French village of Paradis, 25 miles from Dunkirk, where Private Pooley's dying wish that his ashes should be interred among his old comrades was carried out," one newspaper reported.
"The simple wooden casket was buried at the foot of the memorial erected to 95 of the 97 men who were massacred. More than 600 members of the Dunkirk Veterans' Association, their wives and friends, including relatives of some of those who were murdered, returned to the village to pay tribute to Mr Pooley.
"A frail figure of 79, Mme Creton stood with her 80-year-old husband and son Victor, now 51, together with Mrs Pooley who was accompanied by her two daughters Mrs Jeannette Hawkes and Mrs Patricia Haden and their husbands.
Pilgrimage Pictures pre-2010
2010 - The 70th Anniversary
2011 - The 71st Anniversary
2013 - The 73rd Anniversary
2015 - The 75th Anniversary
2017 - The 77th Anniversary
2018 - The 78th Anniversary and opening of Le Paradis Museum
2018 - The 78th Anniversary pictures by Ralston Ryder and Brent Greenwood
2019 - The 79th Anniversary
2010 - The 70th Anniversary
2011 - The 71st Anniversary
2013 - The 73rd Anniversary
2015 - The 75th Anniversary
2017 - The 77th Anniversary
2018 - The 78th Anniversary and opening of Le Paradis Museum
2018 - The 78th Anniversary pictures by Ralston Ryder and Brent Greenwood
2019 - The 79th Anniversary
The Commissioning of the
Memorial Outside Le Paradis Church in 1978.
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Guest List for the first Le Paradis Pilgrimage
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