D-Day and the Battle for Normandy (1944)

On 6 June 1944, Allied forces embarked on the largest amphibious invasion in history. In this project we recorded the personal stories of those who planned the mission, stormed the beaches, parachuted into enemy territory, and battled through the difficult terrain of Normandy.

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An interview with

Eric Gower

As part of an armoured regiment Eric Gower found his progression slow going during those...

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An interview with

Roy Clarke

To this day, as he gets ready to go to bed, Roy Clarke is thankful...
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An interview with

Tom Finegan

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An interview with

Peter Haughton

‘You were a fighting unit and you knew your job and you knew what you...

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An interview with

Fred Lee

Fred’s mother was unhappy when he volunteered to join the Royal Navy in 1943 -...

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An interview with

Percy Lewis

Percy Lewis experienced so much during the war, from the cold of the Scottish shores...

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An interview with

Harry Rawlins

Harry felt it was a great honour to fight for King and country. Although he...

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An interview with

Les Temple

Working as an ABC operator in Lancaster Bombers, Les Temple had an important job
...

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An interview with

Kenneth Hay

Captured by the Germans and forced to march for miles in terrible conditions, Kenneth Hay...

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An interview with

John Jenkins

As a sergeant in the army, John Jenkins experienced some of the best and the...

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An interview with

James Cooper

As a young man in the Reconnaissance Corps, James Cooper witnessed some sad things during...

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An interview with

Ken Cook

As a telegraphist, Kenneth experienced Allied resolve and determination when his ship gets bomber but...

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About D-Day and the Battle for Normandy (1944)

On 6 June 1944, Allied forces launched the largest seaborne invasion in history, beginning the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe. D-Day and the subsequent Normandy Campaign were defining moments of the Second World War, fought at immense cost. As time passes, it becomes ever more important to preserve the voices of those who were there.

Legasee’s Normandy Veterans Project

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, Legasee partnered with the Normandy Veterans Association, the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth, and schools in Portsmouth and Chatham to capture first-hand accounts of the campaign. With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project recorded 100 interviews with veterans, adding to an archive of 70 earlier testimonies. These personal stories provide a deeply moving insight into the realities of war.

As well as being free to view in the Legasee Archive, the interviews form part of a permanent exhibition at the D-Day Museum, ensuring that future generations can hear directly from those who served.

In addition, veterans’ voices from the archive feature in a series of Legasee’s The Veterans’ Voice podcast, bringing their experiences to life through compelling storytelling and expert narration.

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