Just to show that there are people who know nothing *everywhere* not just in certain countries


UNDER 25s ARE D-DAY DUNCES

Jun 1 2004


EXCLUSIVE

By Damien Fletcher And Jon Kelly


BRITAIN is a nation of D-Day dunces, a Mirror survey reveals.

We asked 1,000 under 25s across the country what they knew about the Allied invasion of France in 1944 - and found astonishing ignorance despite massive TV, radio and newspaper coverage of this week's 60th anniversary.

Seventy-three per cent did not know what it was, when it happened or who was involved.

Only six per cent correctly answered all seven questions shown on the left.

Christina Thomas, 16, of East London, said: "D-Day stands for Doomsday doesn't it?"

Asked which world war it happened in Simone Marshall, 19, of North London, said: "Was it in Iraq?"

Sarah Gentry, 15, of Bromley, Kent, thought John Kennedy was the American president. Peter Murray, 17, of Liverpool, said: "Our Prime Minister was Tony Blair's granddad."

Tim Whitehouse, 16, of Kingstanding, Birmingham, summed up many youngsters' apathy: "It's not important though, is it. It's past so there is no need to keep remembering it."

Joss Mark, 80, president of Carlisle branch of the Normandy Veterans Association, said: "I'm shocked - they should be teaching this in history."

Joe Lindon, 80, who worked as a gunner on a mine-clearing tank on D-day, said: "In France it's part of the curriculum to take them to the beach to see what happened."

Nick Seaton from the Campaign for Real Education said: "I'm horrified."

The Department for Education said: "The Second World War is part of the national curriculum, which means children should all study it."


__________

TEST YOUR 1944 KNOWLEDGE

HERE are the questions, and the correct answers:

1. What is D-Day?

ANSWER: Day of the Allied invasion of France.

DUNCE: David Butler, a 20-year-old admin worker from Blackpool, said: "Is it something to do with Denomination Day? I really haven't got a clue."

2. When was D-Day?

ANSWER: 6 June 1944.

DUNCE: Alexia Lange, a 20-year-old student from Bournemouth, Dorset, said: "I'm sure it happened in the 60s. The precise year would be 1962, I think."

3. Where did it happen?

ANSWER: The beaches of Normandy, France.

DUNCE: Robert Johnson, 20, from Grays, Essex, said: "I'm sure it was Japan but I don't know any more than that."

4. Who was British Prime Minister at the time?

ANSWER: Sir Winston Churchill.

DUNCE: Dilip Rajah, a 20-year-old university student from Lewisham, South East London: "Was it Tony Blair? I really don't know, mate."

5. Who was the President of America at the time?

ANSWER: Franklin D. Roosevelt.

DUNCE: Michael Fitzsimons, 15, of Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, said: "It was the man who could not chop down the tree." (presumably referring to George Washington, first President of the US)

6. Who the leader of Germany at the time?

ANSWER: Adolf Hitler.

DUNCE: Hannah Gray, a 24-year-old advertising executive, said: "Was it a king? I don't know. Can I phone a friend?"

7. During which world war did D-Day happen?

ANSWER: World War II.

DUNCE: Natasha Mitchell, a 19-year-old helpdesk worker from South London, said: "Was it World War I? This is really embarrassing."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews...name_page.html