Normandy with a Metal Detector - Can be done?

[alwayslost]

OK my son who is 10 loves anything to do with the military. What he wants to do while we are in one of the private tours is actually bring a metal detector hoping to catch some remnants/pieces of war stuff. Does he even need one?

 

First, is he in for a huge disappointment?

Second, maybe to assuage him, I'm assuming we can buy some stuff at a reasonable price?

 

Any advice will be deeply appreciated.

[John Bull]

Strangely, along the First World War's Western Front (a strip vaguely along the French/Belgian border) there's stacks of WW1 shells, grenades, etc which can still be found by just hunting the hedgerows - I found 4 in just 30 minutes. And each week during the ploughing season, trucks still go round collecting little piles of them left at the roadside by farmers - it's known as the Iron Harvest.

But Normany is nothing like that & I'm pretty certain that junior will be wasting his time. Much to the relief of your cruiseline & airline :D

 

Digging up the ground at the iconic places, such as Pointe du Hoc, or behind Omaha beach (oops, that's the American cemetery :rolleyes:) is almost certainly a no-no, around the countryside may not be such a problem but without knowing the most likely places it'd surely be a needle in a large herd of haystacks - you're looking at hundreds of sq miles.

I've seen very occasional folk with metal detectors on the beaches, don't know if they need a licence. And I don't suppose they were folks who'd packed them on a flight from the US :D

And for cruisers on a one-day visit, time is at a premium - you'd lose so much valuable time that it's really not worthwhile.

But I guess if you're planning a private tour, the guide will be able to advise better than folk on this board.

 

Yes, stuff can be bought.

There's a shop in Arromanches-les-Bains, just off the main street. This one, if my google-mapping skills are up to scratch.

Arromanches Militaria Militaria

Contact: Hourblin Pascal

11 boulevard Gilbert Longuet

02 31 21 51 04

Arromanchesmilitaria@Free.Fr

Don't know about authenticity, or about value-for-money though it seems like the sort of place where you hold up some readies & barter. There are plenty of other shops in the town selling photos etc, & poss some authentic stuff.

Arromanches in the British & Commonwealth sector, but it's at the western end - only about 11 miles from Omaha/American cemetery which will be on your must-see list. And it's a pleasant & interesting little town, with remnants of the D-Day Mulberry Harbour, a seafront D-Day museum, lots of D-Day shops, cafes etc, and a 360degree D-Day cinema on the headland a mile outside the town.

I'm guessing there's a few other memorabilia shops along the entire D-Day stretch, your guide should know at least one or two.

 

Your wallet will be a far more productive tool than a metal detector.

 

Bonne chance

 

John Bull