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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John Sturgis
John Sturgis was a Troop Commander in the Royal Marines, 41 Commando. In his interview...
Harry Marrington
Harry Marrington was a Seaman and Gunner with the Royal Navy Patrol Service.
David Baines
Brigadier David Baines MBE served as the final President of the Normandy Veterans Association. In...
Allan Orpin
Allan orpine provides a good account of his time with the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance...
Les Stonell
Les Stonell served as a Telegraphist Coder with the Royal Navy NP 1732. His work...
Len Mann
Len Mann served with D Company 12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment.
Jim Stephens
Jim Stephens served in 56th Devonshire Regiment, 86th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery. He was a...
Doug Lakey
Whilst in Normandy, Doug Lakey served as an Observation Point Sergeant. It was fierce but...
Bernard Lynham
Bernard served with 46 Commando, Royal Marines part of the 9th Infantry Battalion.
He...
Baden Singleton
Baden Singleton provides an honest [very honest] account of his time in the Royal Naval...
Stan Shore
Stan Shore served as a Trooper in HQ Squadron with the 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment.
...
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.