"Screams and gunfire" D-Day stories 80 years on
It's 80 years since the D-Day landings in Normandy on 6th June 1944
Last updated 6th Jun 2024
Eighty 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.
There are numerous commemoration events and we hear from some of the men who took part in D-Day itself.
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:
- Albert Lamond, who served in the Royal Navy protecting warships from enemy attack
- Sgt Donald Peter Belcher, 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire & Bucks Light Infantry
- 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.
"I thought 'this is the end' "
Cyril "Dickie" Bird lives in Edinburgh, having been brought up in Manchester, and was a tank commander when he took part in the Normandy landings:
"I was with the most wonderful body of men, that's what I remember. And we've been back to the graves of the guys who didn't come back. So many of my close friends still lay out in those Normandy fields.
"It was important we defeated Hitler. That was the only important thing, as far as I was concerned, that we destroyed the German army in Normandy.
When we landed I thought 'this is the end', but of course it was the other way about and it was the end for them.
"We were just thrown into it"
John Mitchell - from Galston in Ayrshire - was in the Royal Corp of Signals, he landed on Juno beach as part of the Normandy landings:
"You try for so many years to forget most of the things you've seen. As the years went on you were asked questions and it was difficult to recall things. But some memories you don't forget and you never talk about."
"I was only 19 years of age. I was only a boy. You'd not seen life and were just thrown into it."
A scary moment
98-year-old Jim Glennie, from Aberdeenshire, was just 18-years-old when he arrived on the beaches of Normandy.
He was shot and captured, spending his 19th birthday as a prisoner of war, before escaping.
"We had to get over the side of the boat and the water came up to our knees. It was a scary one. We were still getting shelled now and again.
"The Germans were moving in and we weren't strong enough to hold them back."
D-day commemorations in Normandy
Events will be held in Usher Hall, Edinburgh, as well as Garlieston, Dumfries and Galloway, to mark the loss of thousands of Allied troops during the air and sea attack on the Nazis, while First Minister of Scotland John Swinney will attend an event at the British War Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer in Normandy.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Swinney said: "Scotland owes a great debt of gratitude to all those who served during the Second World War, especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Were it not for the actions of these brave men and women 80 years ago, we would not enjoy the freedoms which we now take for granted.
"It is important that current and future generations continue to learn of the events that took place in Normandy so that we ensure such a conflict is never repeated."
Scotland's Salute: A Tribute To D-Day 80, at Usher Hall, will feature music from His Majesty's Royal Marines Band Scotland and the Military Wives Choir and was organised by Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland.
Portsmouth memorial service
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.