D-Day veterans gather on Normandy beach ahead of 80th anniversary (2024)

D-Day veterans gathered on Omaha Beach in Normandy today as Brits who fought alongside them set sail to pay tribute to their fallen comrades ahead of the 80th anniversary commemorations.

The celebrations took place to remember more than 150,000British, Canadian and American troops who landed in a combined naval, air and ground assault on Nazi-occupied Franceon June 6, 1944.

Ceremonies are underway across Normandy, with the largest events set to take place on Thursday, with dozens of world leaders attending including US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and King Charles.

This anniversary is likely to be the last marked on a grand scale in the presence of those who fought in 1944 - as more veterans pass away or become too old to travel.

Two dozen British D-Day veterans were the star passengers of a flotilla which set sail from Portsmouth, England, today, bound for the beaches of Normandy where 80 years ago this week they fought to liberate France.

'It's a very special day,' veteran Ken Hay, 98, told the BBC onboard the 'Mont St Michel' ferry which was decorated with maritime flags.

In 1944, Portsmouth was the main departure point for the 5,000 ships which headed to Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword, the beaches made famous by the operation.

Surrounded by naval ships and civilian boats, the ferry was waved off by small crowds who lined the docks in Portsmouth, as tugboats sprayed water, a traditional tribute.

Midway through the journey to France, the ship was due to switch off its engines for a wreath-laying ceremony to remember those who did not make it to shore. About 4,400 Allied troops died on June 6.

German casualties are unknown but are estimated at between 4,000 and 9,000.

Veteran Colonel Joe Peterburs, 99, said: 'It's our duty to remember them and make sure people realise how evil the world can become if you do not really take care.'

An Air Force pilot during World War Two, Peterburs did not take part in D-Day but began combat missions aged 19 and was made a prisoner in Germany when his plane was shot down. He managed to escape and went on to serve in the military for 36 years, including stints in Korea and Vietnam.

'I see all the graves. The bravery and the sacrifice of these men killed in their youth who could not live a full life,' he said, as he looked from his wheelchair at row after row of white crosses - some with names, some unmarked.

'He feels a lot of survival guilt. He prays every night for all (those) that he left behind,' said his granddaughter, Sabrina Peterburs, who travelled with him.

'It's very emotional to be here with him and the other veterans and see the gratefulness of French people.'

John Dennett, 99, told the BBC he was looking forward to the ceremonies of the coming days. 'It's a chance of a lifetime. Eighty years ago, it's a long time, going back, to see what we started,' he said.

He and fellow veterans listened to a military band onboard the ferry led by bagpipes. Aged between 97 and 103, many of the veterans had walking sticks or were in wheelchairs, and wore military medals pinned to their lapels.

The French army conducted an exercise at dawn at Omaha beach, with dozens of soldiers landing on the beach, reenacting D-Day.

'We think of the dead, those who came before us,' said Lieutenant Jeremy from the French Legion's 13th Demi-Brigade. 'We are happy to honour our elders by doing what they did 80 years ago.'

King Charles and Queen Camilla will be among those in attendance to remember more than 150,000 troops who landed in Nazi-occupied Franceon June 6.

But the number of those who will travel to Normandy has decreased due to many now being too old to make the journey.

Just over 30 veterans made the trip via ferry this year - compared to more than 200 in 2019.

Victor Walker, 98, is among a number of veterans unable to travel to France this year as he toldThe Telegraph: 'Age has finally caught up with me.'

Mr Walker worked on board a destroyer which transported troops to the shores of France.

He travelled to Normandy for the 65th, 70th and 75th commemorations, but his declining health meant he could not make the trip for this anniversary.

'I have been very lucky to have visited Normandy several times in previous years to remember. However, this year I am unable to make the trip due to mobility and other health problems,' he said.

Mr Walker was 17 when he joined the Royal Navy in June 1943 as a seaman.

He joined the crew of HMS Versatile, beginning his career escorting Arctic convoys - before the ship was redeployed to the Solent to escort convoys to Normandy.

This year only 12 veterans of the Battle of Normandy were present for afternoon tea at Southwick House, near Portsmouth, compared to 75 five years ago.

Les Underwood, 98, who was a Royal Navy gunner, is one of the youngest remaining veterans as he lied about his age to join up.

'All the memories come back,' Underwood told The Times. 'Guns going everywhere, screaming from the men, some of them getting off the landing craft and some even drowned.'

He added: 'My father always said men and boys don't cry, but they do,' he said. 'I've cried at the thoughts of the men not coming back.'

Veteran Ken Cooke, 98, said the 80th anniversary commemorations this week will be the last time he revisits Gold Beach where he landed as an 18-year-old on June 6, 1944.

Appearing on Antiques Roadshow's D-Day special this week, Mr Cooke recalled how hestepped onto the beach and straight into battle.

'We set off for [Gold] Beach. I can't describe the noise. You can't describe the noise. It was that horrendous,' he said.

'I stepped off into six inches of water. There were explosions going off and what have you, but all I was bothered about was my wet socks.'

He added: 'There were bodies rolling about in the water. But we didn't have time to look round or anything. The sergeants and the officers [said] ''right lads, get off the beach as soon as you can. If anybody gets hit, don't stop.''

'And that's what we did. We got away off the beach as quick as possible.

'It was the following day that it all struck home what was happening. And as you were having breakfast, you'd look round and you'd say, ''where's blondie? Where's Harry?'' And somebody would say, ''well remember that tank that got blown up on the beach? They were standing next to it''.

'That's when it sank in here, that these bullets coming towards you were real.'

Albert Keir, 98, who travelled to Normandy via ship today,trolled the sea area around the beaches before the army landed in the months prior to D-Day.

On D-Day, Mr Keir was part of the crew ferrying US troops onto Utah beach.

'At night when it was dark, the sky was lit up with all different sorts of colours, tracer bullets and different things. And the noise was colossal… And the firing from the sea over our heads blasting the beaches was very bad. Took some standing that did.

'It's very difficult to try and get it out of your mind. It took some time to get it more or less out of my mind,' he said.