With June 6, 2024, marking the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord, which saw tens of thousands of soldiers embark on establishing a foothold across the French coast to begin the advance to liberate northwest Europe, it was June 6, 1944, which saw thousands of Allied Warships make their way towards the coast of Northern France.
D-Day saw the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare, was underway to herald one of the most decisive campaigns of World War 2. The amphibious invasions began as British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture beaches codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword, as did the Americans at Utah Beach.
By the end of June, the Allies had seized the vital port of Cherbourg, landed approximately 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles in Normandy, and were poised to continue their march across France. Today veterans from the UK are in France to join commemorations to marking the 80th anniversary of the landings.
As well-wishers lined the route to watch as they made the journey across the Channel, up to 25 former servicemen made the ferry crossing from Portsmouth - many laid wreaths at sea while just off the French coastline to remember those who didn’t make it. They also took a commemorative torch from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, for a vigil in Bayeux.
With many veterans being cared for, and in wheelchairs or reliant on walking sticks, they were – nevertheless - in high spirits, as they caught up with each other once again as a flotilla of vintage and serving warships, including World War Two-era motor gunboat 81, motor launch HMS Medusa and RAF rescue boat HSL 102, led an ‘armada’, of sorts, as Royal Navy patrol boats HMS Trumpeter and HMS Dasher followed behind, along with sea cadet training vessel TS Royalist and minehunter HMS Cattistock.
As harbour tugs shot jets of water in tribute and bagpipers played on the stern of the ferry as the veterans departed, there was also the simultaneous sounding of sirens from other craft nearby. Crowds waved flags as they gathered on the Round Tower and harbour walls in Old Portsmouth to cheer the ferry as it passed.
With the veterans and families waving back, those onboard were waving to people on other vessels as they left Portsmouth Harbour. “This was a momentous occasion," said Royal British Legion's Director General, Mark Atkinson.
"The veterans were remarkably sprightly,” he added. “Although they was a lot of mixed emotions, but a lot of excitement to go back as it proved to be a great opportunity for them to pay their respects and remember the fallen."
