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

Len Mann

Len Mann served with D Company 12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment. 

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An interview with

Ken Watson

Ken Watson’s wife talks about her late husband. 

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An interview with

Jim Stephens

Jim Stephens served in 56th Devonshire Regiment, 86th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery.  He was a...

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An interview with

Doug Lakey

Whilst in Normandy, Doug Lakey served as an Observation Point Sergeant. It was fierce but...

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An interview with

Bert Crane

Bert Crane served with the The 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment (The Gloucestershire Regiment).

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An interview with

Bernard Lynham

Bernard served with 46 Commando, Royal Marines part of the 9th Infantry Battalion.  

 

He...

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An interview with

Baden Singleton

Baden Singleton provides an honest [very honest] account of his time in the Royal Naval...

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An interview with

Stan Shore

Stan Shore served as a Trooper in HQ Squadron with the 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment.
...

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An interview with

Roy Dixon

Roy Dixon was nineteen when he joined the 5th Royal Tank Regiment, 7th Armoured Division...

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An interview with

Ray Lord

Ray Lord joined the 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment as a Wireless Operator. It was...

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An interview with

Leonard Haldenby

Leonard Haldenby served in the Anti-Tank Platoon of the 2 Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment.
The...

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An interview with

Mrs Ray Blythe

Mrs Blythe talks about her late husband Ray who served in the 6th Airbourne Parachute...

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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.

Are you a teacher?

Download our D-Day and the Battle for Normandy (1944) teaching resource...

Educational Resources - Longdendale
An interview with

Len Mann

D Coy 12th Bn Devonshire Regt - glider trained. Went in by boat, insufficient gliders. Six days in the channel. At Ranville, Breville with 7 Para Bn - “our finest hour”, casualties, 162 killed in 5 mins. Across the Rhine as part of 3” mortar platoon & despatch rider.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Doug Lakey

Observation Post Sgt 217 Bty, 112 Fd Regt RA, Landed 10 Jun. Awarded MM for battle of Maltot. And, pieces of metal still coming out after 30 years. You got up every day & wondered whether there would be a tomorrow. The Div lost 2000 men on 10th Jul alone. “I wa always confident we would win but I didn’t think I’d be there to see it” Link to Phil Canes Sigs Sgt from Portsmouth.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Brig. C Elderton
An interview with

Baden Singleton

LSmm RN - Not a Normandy veteran - Royal Naval Patrol Service served Mediterranean, Sicily, vivid description of mine sweeping ops, Asdic sweeps, HMS Romeo & HMS Walborough. Describes impact of “Dear Johns” & the official RB brothel in Alexandria.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Brig. C Elderton
An interview with

Roy Dixon

Tp Ldr 5 RTR superb account of his experiences, sea sick, landed as part of 7th And Div, describes Cpl with nerve gone getting killed, tanks very poor, outclassed by German armour, describes ambush of 4th C of L Yeo at Villars Bocage. Later Maj Gen CB, CVO, MC (for Normandy). When you were not fighting it was quite pleasant. Had four tans shot from under him & a very close shave during Goodwood when a mortar fragment sent passed between his legs & killed his gunner. French attitude was along the lines “nice of you to invade us but wish you had invaded somewhere else!” 11th Armd Div had best reputation in Normandy - fresh & in Shermans. Armour-Infantry co-operation poor
Service:
Interviewed by:
Brig. C Elderton
An interview with

Leonard Haldenby

Pte Anti-Tank Pl 2Bn East Yorks landed Sword Beach in first wave on D Day as part of 8 Inf Bde. Digging in, limitations of 6pr anti-tank gun & Bren Carriers, Set -ff early on 4 Jun, weather calm to Benouville to sp 6 AB Div. Lost many friends killed, traumatic, heavy casualties. (George Flint, Paddy Shields).
Service:
Interviewed by:
Brig. C Elderton