Normandy, on this day 6 June in 1944, the debarquement Normandie.
In France this day, the Invasion of Normandy, Operation Overlord, is commemorated in style every year, our French friends do not forget their brave allies.
Here is a previously unpublished photograph of four of those men.
They don’t look like Hollywood heroes do they?
These young officers were told at a briefing before departing England, “we expect 70 % casualties among officers”.
One of the four is my Father.
He has left me with a vivid written description of his ‘adventures’ as seen by an ordinary soldier who knew he and his allies were making history on a grand scale.
As for me, I am able to live as a free man in France thanks to the many courageous, gallant and often very brave men of many nations who came ashore that day and on the following days ‘without passports’.