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

Vernon Jones

Vernon Jones served with the 1st Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He provides a fascinating...

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An interview with

Harold Addie

Harold Addie gives an emotional account of his time as a Wireman on LCT501. Early...

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An interview with

Albert Figg

Albert Figg was well respected for his work in focusing attention to the devastating battle...

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An interview with

Reg Charles

Reg Charles provides an outstanding account of his time in the 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire...

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An interview with

John Sleep

John Sleep gives an emotional account of his Second World War service. He served with...

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An interview with

George Payne

George Payne provides an interesting account of his time as an Aircraft handler onboard the...

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An interview with

D-Day school film

A unique opportunity for pupils from King Richards school in Portsmouth to meet local veteran,...

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An interview with

Tony Gibbons

Tony Gibbons joined the Royal Marines in 1942. He provides some excellent detail about the...

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An interview with

Vernon House

Vernon House served as a Deck Boy in the Merchant Navy on SS Coalville.  During...

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An interview with

Theodore Dalgleish

Thodore Dalgleish provides an interesting account of his time with the Scots Own Borders. In...

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An interview with

John Winder

John Winder served as a Captain in the Royal Corp of Signals. He was attached...

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An interview with

Elizabeth Wadner

Elisabeth Wadner talks about her late husband Sergeant John Wadner. He served with the Royal...

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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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Educational Resources - Longdendale
An interview with

Tony Gibbons

Marine RM Landing Craft 812 Flotilla landed D Day Gold Beach 6t” guns firing overhead deafening, vivid description of shuttling troops ashore, offers from ship to ship for cocktail parties, body bags on beach, casualty handling harrowing, uncertainty of approaching beach. Medical people very good.
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Service:
Interviewed by:
Brig. C Elderton
An interview with

Theodore Dalgleish

PTE Intelligence Section HQ Coy 6th Bn KOSB, 15(S) Div. Subsequently tfr to Bde HQ. Describes reaction to first casualties. Reece patrols, confusion in the dark, moaning minis, towel shredded on his back. Hill113 (next to Hill 112) took pasting. Got lost found by cousin. And taken to CCS, tented hospital, evacuated on LCT. And in leg medical discharge & joined civil affairs unit in Control Commission Germany (CCG) Traumatic experiences live with you lifelong. Don’t think about comrades killed (eg Captain Ogilvie) heavy casualties (see Regt History by Hastings) Lost mates, cut off, smell of death, surrounded by death
Service:
Interviewed by:
Brig. C Elderton
An interview with

John Winder