"We owe our freedom today to what they did" North Yorkshire pays tribute to D-Day veterans
It's 80 years since the D-Day landings in Normandy on 6th June 1944
80 years ago today was D-Day, one of the most important days of the Second World War as hundreds of thousands of troops took part in the largest seaborne invasion in history.
Troops from the UK, the USA, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the beaches at Normandy in northern France on June 6, 1944.
The Normandy landings were the largest seaborne invasion in history, with the 1944 battle laying the foundation for an Allied victory.
Marc Buchanan is from York, his step Dad Private Ken Smith was part of the second wave who landed on the beach: "When he got there he was asked to get on his radio which didn't work, went to take the backpack off and that's when he saw that two bullets had hit it."
"Our freedom is down to those men and women, it's 80 years ago, it's a long time, I suppose to some people but in the great scheme of things it's not and we really do our freedom today to what they did."
Ken died four years age but Marc says he was haunted by what happened: "Ken giving us that peace, he suffered for the rest of his life, there was hardly a night that went by for the rest of his life where he didn't suffer from sleep trauma, nightmares, PTSD as it's known today."
"He had many moments when he felt guilty for living, he had such a good life, he was 95 when he passed away four years ago. He had an absolutely fantastic life with Mum, lots of travelling but there was always that guilt."
"It may be a long to some people but we must never forget, we must always have gratitude, remembrance and thanks for what they did."
Stories from those who survived D-Day
Ahead of today's D-Day anniversary, we spoke to those who witnessed it first hand.
Listen to our short documentary 'D-Day and Me' which shares the personal journeys of Army, Navy, and RAF personnel in June 1944.
The interviews were recorded in Spring 2024. Special thanks to the D-Day heroes who spoke to us:
- Sgt Donald Peter Belcher, 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire & Bucks Light Infantry
- Albert Lamond, who served in the RAF
- Les Underwood, who served in the RAF and worked on merchant ships
- Leonard Brereton, who served with a tank unit in the New Forest
- Alan MacQuillan, who served as an armourer with 61 Squadron.
D-day commemorations in Normandy today
Yesterday the King joined the Prince of Wales, leading UK politicians and veterans at a major event in Portsmouth to mark the anniversary, today – the 80th anniversary of D-Day – commemorations will begin in Normandy.
At 7.25am, the same time the beach invasion began in 1944, the commemorations will begin.
A military piper will land on the beaches of Arromanches-les-Bains in a Royal Marines landing craft and begin playing a lament in tribute to those who led the beach landings.
The official British commemoration for the 80th anniversary of D-Day will take place at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, where the King will join French President Emmanuel Macron and Mr Sunak.
On Tuesday, a slew of former D-Day soldiers boarded a ferry to make the journey from Portsmouth to Normandy once again, retracing their steps 80 years ago.
The Prince of Wales will attend events in Normandy including a service hosted by Canada at Juno Beach and an international ceremony hosted by France at Omaha Beach which will be attended by more than 25 heads of state.
The UK’s Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron will also attend the Portsmouth and Normandy commemorations.
The Prime Minister will deliver a short speech at Ver-sur-Mer and lead a “heroes’ welcome” for the veterans.