this is albert keogh we are looking at, 98. he is a royal navy veteran. do i hear applause? applause look at his face as who takes it all in. he hails from scotland and the smile on his face, because the thing is, he survived, james. he understands what the loss is because he had a life. ~ . , , , life. what must they be feeling, thou~h? life. what must they be feeling, though? the — life. what must they be feeling, though? the fact _ life. what must they be feeling, though? the fact that _ life. what must they be feeling, though? the fact that they, - life. what must they be feeling, though? the fact that they, for| life. what must they be feeling, - though? the fact that they, for some reason, they have cheated, they cheated death in 1944 and had cheated death in 1944 and had cheated it ever since and here they still are. cheated it ever since and here they stillare. how cheated it ever since and here they still are. how wonderful cheated it ever since and here they stillare. how wonderfulto cheated it ever since and here they still are. how wonderful to hear all of the cheers and applause as they arrive. these are fantastic scenes, paddy. arrive. these are fantastic scenes, padd . �* , , arrive. these are fantastic scenes, padd . �*, , , applause dorothea baron nearest to us was a visual signaller in the wrens. she is being guided to her seat. we are lucky, aren't we, to know that the french have always wanted to commemorate what happened here, despite the awful civilian losses? civilian losses were absolutely huge. somewhere between 25—30,000 during the normandy campaign and more than that in the run—up from the allied bombing, trying to restrict the germans getting to normandy before the invasion began. and yet i never had any resentment. i said, don't you feel a little bitterness about the ruined villages and towns and loss of life? they say no, their allies came and liberated us. and we can see here that the actors are taking to the stage. the scene is being set for what lies ahead today. this is the first event of its kind because unique among the wartime allies, as we heard from nick at the beginning of our programme, the british did not have a single memorial and this is it. not only is it now here on gold beach as we see it, but this is the first moment it's been allowed to do itsjob, first moment it's been allowed to do its job, james. first moment it's been allowed to do itsjob, james. this is a memorial which strikes everyone who sees it on the television or up close and personal, but this is it for what it was designed, on the 80th anniversary today.- was designed, on the 80th anniversary today. was designed, on the 80th anniversa toda . . anniversary today. nick which was absolutely right _ anniversary today. nick which was absolutely right in _ anniversary today. nick which was absolutely right in that _ anniversary today. nick which was absolutely right in that there - anniversary today. nick which was absolutely right in that there is i anniversary today. nick which wasj absolutely right in that there is no finer spot along the normandy coast line for it than here. someone is smiling on us all because the skies are blue, there is not a cloud anywhere. there is a faint breeze and it is reallyjust a perfectjune summer's day and so different, the weather today, from what it was back 80 years ago, when low cloud, wind whipping up across the atlantic, to creating havoc, pushing all the landing craft away to the east from where they should have been. very fortunate today. we tell you that the 160 columns are made of stone principally from france, taken to northern ireland to be expertly crafted and then brought back here for us to see today. 160 columns. also, shortly, the combined bands of the royal air force will lead a tri— service guard of honour. when i see those three services, the royal navy, the army and the royal air force, it is important for me to understand they all combined but they had different actions. yes. they had different actions. yes, absolutely- _ they had different actions. yes, absolutely. field _ they had different actions. yes, absolutely. field marshall- they had different actions. 1&1: absolutely. field marshall alexander injune absolutely. field marshall alexander in june 1943, absolutely. field marshall alexander injune 1943, just before the sicilian invasion, made the point that really, it is a brotherhood that really, it is a brotherhood that they have organised now in the war by that stage. a brotherhood of air, land and sea and they really do work absolutely dovetail together. band plays so the combined bands of the royal air force are leading the tri— service guard of honour. the conductor today will be wing commander richard murray, principal director of music of the royal air force. and we are looking at... so we can be telling you who else is in the crowd. we have representing the royal navy, 42 commando, royal marines. the officer leading, major chris. from the army, the 1st battalion, the royal regiment of fusiliers. major stuart gilbert is their officer leading. and from the royal air force, the king's colour squadron, royalair royal air force, the king's colour squadron, royal air force regiment. the officer leading is flight lieutenant cutler. band plays. this is the guard of honour taking their positions to greet the dignitaries, his majesty, her majesty will be here and the president of france. you would i am sure have heard some very popular numbers there. that was a wartime medley of music that would have been staring the hearts and staring their memories of our veterans. if you're blind or partially sighted, petroc trelawny will now be providing audio description — press the red button or go to the bbc iplayer now. the plume is referred to as a hackle. the governor general of australia, david hurley. approximately 3000 australians participated in the d—day landings on the 6th ofjune. thousands more would serve during the normandy campaign and beyond. and their main contribution was in the air, james? yes, absolutely. about 1000 australian airmen flew with the air force squadrons and a further 1800 operated on attachments. the australians, like the new zealanders, also fought all around the world, in the air and on land and at sea. so it is good to see them being represented here today. also, james, we're looking at gold beach and it sits in that known to history line of other beaches around the coast? , ., ~ , , ., history line of other beaches around the coast? , ., ~ , ., the coast? yes, to the west you have omaha, in the coast? yes, to the west you have omaha. in pepular— the coast? yes, to the west you have omaha, in popular narrative, - the coast? yes, to the west you have omaha, in popular narrative, the - 0maha, in popular narrative, the most famous beach of them all. utah beach at the base, and then to the are right you have the canadians, who actually come as a proportion of the number of men that were landed, took the greatest amount of casualties on d—day and sword at the last. casualties on d-day and sword at the last. ,, ., casualties on d-day and sword at the last, ,, ., �* , casualties on d-day and sword at the last. ,, ., �* , last. sword beach is the most easterly beach. _ and here we are, the prime minister is arriving and there is his wife, akshata murty. he will be making a short speech and also welcoming the veterans. he will be helping us greet the veterans in public. and going down the line, he is meeting the maire, lysiane le duc drean. and the secretary of state, grant shapps, he certainly doesn't need to meet him, he is a colleague. he is here at an event that hits home. next door we see the president of the normandy memorial trust, the lord peter ricketts. a reminder that they had an idea and they had to get people to support the idea. we want to build a memorial, they said ten years ago, and they all say that some people totally got the message. there is the national chair of the royal british legion, mrjason coward. the rbl is making this event possible today, organising it for us. and very proud they must be, with so many volunteers every day of the year supporting their work with the year supporting their work with the rbl. and the director—general of the rbl. and the director—general of the rbl. and the director—general of the rbl mark atkinson. he is there. now in the right of our picture is the chief of the defence staff, admiral sir tony radakin. james, these events, the serving military that we see, they are the same age, we met, you and i yesterday met a young man and you can tell the story of how old he was. he was 18, serving it today. you think to yourself, when we see those young faces, that is exactly what it was like on the 6th ofjune. yes, i mean, 18 is impossibly young. i don't know about you, but when i was that age, what a feckless young man i was. it beggars belief really that people could be expected to do what they did and yet they did and it is notjust about what they did and yet they did and it is not just about sacrificing their lives, is it? it is sacrificing a key part of their lives. even for those who have survived, you have cut short on the beaches of normandy and in land and across a swathe of northwest europe. so can we say that their serving members of the armed forces, this is an event that they will cherish as well? ., ., ., , ., well? oh, i would have thought so. i would think— well? oh, i would have thought so. i would think anyone _ well? oh, i would have thought so. i would think anyone who _ well? oh, i would have thought so. i would think anyone who is _ well? oh, i would have thought so. i would think anyone who is in - well? oh, i would have thought so. i would think anyone who is in the - would think anyone who is in the armed forces feels very keenly the long threads of history, and comparatively recent history such as the second world war. i think every single serviceman i have ever worked with or got to know has felt deeply proud of that heritage. 50 with or got to know has felt deeply proud of that heritage.— proud of that heritage. so shortly, the prime minister _ proud of that heritage. so shortly, the prime minister will _ proud of that heritage. so shortly, the prime minister will address . proud of that heritage. so shortly, | the prime minister will address the 2000 and also who are here. some family members, as we have said, and also those who earned their seat here by flying here, landing here, fighting here. 80 years ago, the weather broke. and the greatest invasion force in history left the shores of britain to liberate europe. we are here today to remember the sacrifice of the tens of thousands who did not make it home. and we are here to honour the service of those who did. men like ken cook, 18 years old. he had never been on a boat before. he had never been on a boat before. he had never been on a boat before. he had never been on the beach before. yet, with his regiment, the green howards, he landed in the first wave to storm gold beach. 0r stan ford, 19, he was manning a gun turret on hms brampton when a torpedo struck, blowing him into the water. the ship sank in four minutes. 31 of stan's shipmates were lost, from a crew of 80. or royal marine dennis donovan who landed onjuno beach alongside canadian forces. they fought their way off the beach and into the bitter, house—to—house fighting, and by the end of the first day, a quarter of his unit was dead or wounded. ken, stan, and dennis are here today alongside dozens of their fellow veterans. we are humbled to be with you, and for what you did that day, we will always be grateful. applause ican i can guess how they might feel when they hear us upload their courage. i am no hero, they will say. ijust did my duty. that humility is so much a part of why they are truly the best of us. but to call one person a hero does not diminish the heroism of others. each of you who contributed that day, sailor, soldier, aviator, civilian, whether you fought on the beach is parachuted from the skies, or foo fighters or gliders, whether you were an engineer or a radio operator or intelligence officer, your actions read a continent and built a better world. actions read a continent and built a betterworld. —— actions read a continent and built a better world. —— freed a continent. you wished everything, and blu everything. we cannot possibly hope to repay that debt, —— you risked everything and we owe you everything. after the war many of you dedicated your lives to telling the story of what happened. you sold poppies and raise millions for charity. you taught generations of young people about the horrors of war. you lead lives of quiet dignity and dedication in your homes, workplaces, amenities, and yet with each passing year, it falls now to those of us who listened, in awe your stories, to pass them onto our own children and because only by remembering can we make certain that the cause that you fought for, that so many of your friends and colleagues died for, that great cause of freedom, peace and democracy, will never be taken for granted. that is why we come here today. that is why we honour our veterans now and always, and that is why i ask those who can do now rise. —— to now rise. and pleasejoin me... pleasejoin me in giving our heroes the welcome they so deserve. applause now, in the air, we are looking at two dakotas, the aircraft that served from the era, as the veterans are uploaded, the dakotas were used in action. they drop forces from the air, and some of them were converted to pool gliders. a reminder that the normandy landings began by air. the airborne invasion came first, and of course connected with the landing craft and the ships, and it is memorial here to the soldiers carries out its base the words that people heard on the radio on the bbc, d—day has come. early this morning allied naval forces supported by strong air forces began landing allied armies on the northern coast of france. miltary band plays. there you see the effect that the music from the time is having on our veterans. this is what we have been trying to describe, a mixture of pain, but pride and friendship and families, too. the veterans arriving as you can see, now going through the guard of honour, as we await the arrival of honour, as we await the arrival of his majesty the king, and her majesty the queen. i should say, it has got special markings from d—day, was that you stop fire from our own side? �* , ., . ~ ., side? are black and white invasion stri es side? are black and white invasion stries ut side? are black and white invasion stripes put onto — side? are black and white invasion stripes put onto the _ side? are black and white invasion stripes put onto the rings - side? are black and white invasion stripes put onto the rings above i side? are black and white invasion l stripes put onto the rings above the fuselage. _ stripes put onto the rings above the fuselage, only introduced a few days before _ fuselage, only introduced a few days before d—day and hastily painted onto not— before d—day and hastily painted onto not a — before d—day and hastily painted onto not a precise strike you will see there. — onto not a precise strike you will see there, they would have been rougher— see there, they would have been rougher on— see there, they would have been rougher on d—day but this was to prevent— rougher on d—day but this was to prevent a — rougher on d—day but this was to prevent a repeat of what happened in operation _ prevent a repeat of what happened in operation husky, when naval forces had opened fire on allied air forces coming _ had opened fire on allied air forces coming over. applause now, we are looking here atjoe mines, his first trip back here since he was 19. he is in all of what happened here. he says that the memories in his mind met he felt that he never needed to return. look at him. this is him back. he was 19, in 1944. he served in the army and landed on gold beach. find in1944. he served in the army and landed on gold beach.— landed on gold beach. and it is good to see them — landed on gold beach. and it is good to see them having _ landed on gold beach. and it is good to see them having such _ landed on gold beach. and it is good to see them having such a _ landed on gold beach. and it is good to see them having such a wonderfulj to see them having such a wonderful time _ to see them having such a wonderful time. �* ., ~ . ., to see them having such a wonderful time. ~ . ~ . ., , to see them having such a wonderful time, ~ ., a ., ,'::' time. alan mcquillan, turns 101, on june five. yesterday, _ time. alan mcquillan, turns 101, on june five. yesterday, he _ time. alan mcquillan, turns 101, on june five. yesterday, he turned - time. alan mcquillan, turns 101, on| june five. yesterday, he turned 101. he is from the royal air force, he is a veteran, and armourer. he landed atjuno beach by accident. and he wasn't alone, as long as he made it_ and he wasn't alone, as long as he made it safely.— made it safely. alec penstone is wearinu made it safely. alec penstone is wearing the _ made it safely. alec penstone is wearing the white _ made it safely. alec penstone is wearing the white beret - made it safely. alec penstone is i wearing the white beret indicating that he was part of the arctic convoys, his ship was used to sweep for mines on d—day. raf band plays world war two medley cecil newton, whose story we heard, inspiring the music, lovingly remembered. cecil has a primary school named after him. he was in the dragoon guards. find school named after him. he was in the dragoon guards.— school named after him. he was in the dragoon guards. and those in the tanks had a terrible _ the dragoon guards. and those in the tanks had a terrible casualty - the dragoon guards. and those in the tanks had a terrible casualty rate. - tanks had a terrible casualty rate. use this_ tanks had a terrible casualty rate. use this typically had no chance of getting _ use this typically had no chance of getting through unscathed. it was an unbelievably tough gig to have. cecil_ unbelievably tough gig to have. cecil has — unbelievably tough gig to have. cecil has caused many personal friendships with the french. he has been returning for years to pay tribute to his colleagues who never made it through, and we are going to see more of his influence, as our service unfolds. we are listening to a medley of wartime shoes and favourites of our veterans and i think i am hearing there'll always be an england, sergeant max walker, his uncle was a second lieutenant in the royal norfolk regiment. the tuba player, his grandfather was a sailor serving in the royal navy on d—day. the flautist, grandfather was with the royal signals on board hms large. kiss me good night sergeant major. in the middle of our picture, roy harris, as the band plays there will be bluebirds 0ver harris, as the band plays there will be bluebirds over the white cliffs of dover, and roy morgan is there, he was a code breaker, serving in the royal air force. applause royal salute... and his majesty and her majesty have arrived, of course he arrives as king, and commander—in—chief, and he is also the son and grandson of those who served. prince philip was mentioned in dispatches for his actions abroad hms valiant, in 1941. his majesty parr�*s �*s ambassador to the french republic. her late majesty queen elizabeth served as a mechanic in uniform. she famously slipped with her sister margaret to mingle with the crowds outside buckingham palace on ve day in 1945. the queen's father served in the royal lancers, bruce shand and won the military cross in dunkirk. and again at el alamein in north africa in 1942. the queen was appointed as the regiment�*s colonel—in—chief in june 2023. you may have seen the queen on the front of our newspapers visibly moved by veterans during the recent events in portsmouth and at home in the uk. the king will be speaking at the commemoration this morning. we hope you have beenjoining our coverage and you may have heard his majesty addressed the crowds in portsmouth and he spoke in praise of the great wartime generation, calling on the nation today not to be purely passive. he said "it is our duty to ensure that we and future generations do not forget their service and their sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom." and we are reaching the heart of our morning and shortly, our service will begin. to the left of our picture, the north—west of this remarkable memorial, is a special section devoted to french losses. you can see that at the top left of our memorial here. as james was telling us, more than 20,000 french civilians. band plays joe mines, 2nd battalion essex regiment, landed here on gold beach 80 years ago today. he joins us and allowed me to share these memories with you: applause "i've never been back here for 80 years. "i've often thought, what do i go back for? "after all the terrible things i've seen. "it's like a picture book up there. "i can visualise everything. "i landed onjune the 6th, 1944 at a place called ver sur mer. "the germans pulled back, so it allowed us to clear "the mines on the beach. "that was the firstjob i got — clearing mines — all over "the place they were. "joe "mines" clearing mines. "one of our fellas trod on one and blew his leg off. "the whole leg went. "war is brutal. "back when i signed up, i met a fella on the train. "i went to normandy with him, but he got killed within about "an hour of landing here. "he was only young. "i was 19 when i landed, but i was still a boy. "i don't care what people say. "i wasn't a man. "i was a boy and i didn't have any idea of war and killing. "i was lucky. "yeah, i had lots and lots of luck. "so why would i come back? "well, this is the last and only opportunity for me, "the last there will ever be. "and it's because of the lads. "i want to pay my respects to those who didn't make it. "may they rest in peace." applause and their martin goes to joinjoe, making a joke about his own surname, joe mines clearing mines. # oh, the pace of my placed and my lifted foot # the breath in my lungs, to my lips, my tongue # spoke back to the trees # to the ease in my heartbeat # down with the rain # down again and i trod with # an ache for the ones who've walked before me # and joy for the ones who walk beside me, hmm # as i search for the solace the hills might give me # heavy the tread of the dead on the way # the path in the rain, in the sun, won't gleam # and the ground is made with death and decay # and an echo of the ones who've walked before me # and joy for the ones who've walked beside me, hmm # and the beech is lifting me # ash is reaching me # wind is holding me # time is folding me # under the trees # down through the lea # and on to the path that you came to that day # my heart beat quickens # my breath it deepens # my footfall falters your memory�*s salt to the wound # of calling your name is bound to the rain # i see you in forest dreams # oh, the distance gives the ask its answer # i rise up tired but continue myjourney # there's a light in the window, the first star is here # ifind just enough peace to make my way home with # sadness for the ones who've walked before me # and joy for the ones who walk beside me, hmm. # applause the tone being the set there and douglas booth will shortly share our next veteran testimony. we met him earlier with sophie and we will see him shortly. and that is the essence of our event. veteran testimony. i speak on behalf of ron hendrey, royal navy, who i had the great privilege of meeting. he is with us here today and shared these words: applause "as daylight broke on 6thjune1944, "it must have been 5.30 in the morning. "the sight will never leave my mind. "ships as far as the eye could see — thousands of them. "battleships, cruisers, landing crafts "over the starboard side — a 25 mile stretch. "the skies were black with aircraft. "the raf and american air force had cleared the way for us in "the months leading up to d—day. "i will never forget the captain's words. "he said, �*you are about to go into france to begin the liberation of "europe — i want you to give 101% to our efforts in the next 24 hours. �*do the best for everyone', he said. �*take care. �*i wish you all luck�*. "we were terrified, i have never known "a ship go so quiet, itjust went silent, "because everyone was thinking the same thing: �*is this "my last day on earth?�* "as we approached normandy, our goal was gold beach, ver—sur—mer. "i remember these flutters of nerves that "i couldn't get rid of. "and as i watched landing crafts going past, i "gave the lads a thumbs up. "i think now, how many of them are dead? "i remember seeing my first body, a us "airman floating fully—clothed, and he "looked so damn smart. "we wanted to pull his body out of the water, but "the bridge wouldn't have it. "it still makes me emotional. "all that loss. "see, i try to forget d—day, but i can't. "when i come here — especially today, 6thjune — "i have one purpose. "it's to think of the boys. "i've had 80 years on this earth since that day. "my friends have remained under the earth "for that time. "and it is so important to me that we share the same earth "once more, here in normandy." applause douglas meeting ron. douglas reading the words that ron wrote himself. i thought i could see his lips moving along, ron, as he read along, as if he wanted to give him some help, say the same lines that he'd written. the british normandy memorial is not only that _ the british normandy memorial is not only that under british command but many— only that under british command but many french civilians who lost their lives _ these are the words of colette marin—catherine, a teenager in 1944, who still lives in normandy today. "i remember a feeling of mourning engulfing our family "following the fall of france. "we knew the horror of war but we also knew we did not "have a choice, so my family joined the resistance. "the danger was permanent, requiring a great deal "of tenacity and patience. "my brotherjean—pierre was arrested for his efforts and later died "in a concentration camp. "by early 1944, we had a feeling the landings were imminent. "normandy was bombed in the months leading up to d—day. "june 6th was different though. "the sound of the battleships' guns was unlike anything "i'd heard before. "0ur town, bretteville, was liberated by "the allies onjune seventh. "i felt profound admiration for the unwavering courage "of the troops involved. "we were told to leave for bayeux with the wounded my mother "and i had in our care, and so we set off on foot. "in bayeux, the allies were setting up a military hospital called "the robert lion hospital. "it was staffed by a brigade of experienced nurses who knew "neither fatigue nor fear. "i was careful to hide my age of just 15 and was therefore enrolled "caring for the wounded. "i feel infinite respect and gratitude for all those "who have lost their lives — military and civilians "alike, and those who came to give us their help. "when i think of the allied soldiers, the feeling "which still remains with me to this day is like that "of experiencing a second birth. "they saved me from a world of horror and terror and gifted me "a future filled with hope." applause colette marin—catherine, teenager in 1944, herwords spoken by antonia de clarc. alan corlett stands, who wants to meet the person who read her words, antonia, who read them so beautifully. and here we see the president of the french republic arriving, president macron. and the first lady of france, brigitte macron. a decade ago on the 70th anniversary of d—day the french president announced that the legion d'honneur would be awarded to all british veterans who fought for the liberation of france during the second world war. it is france's highest distinction, and is awarded in recognition of both military and civilian merit, and later, he will award the same legion d'honneur, christian lamb, a wartime wren, who drew d—day maps. she knew the names in advance. james, also, the french president has taken a special role in this memorial. he asked for trees to be planted here, on the platinum jubilee of her late majesty's. it is a very touching reminder that the french people want us to know of the extreme respect and gratitude for liberation. , . , extreme respect and gratitude for liberation. , ., , , ~ liberation. yes, it really is. and it is extraordinary. _ liberation. yes, it really is. and it is extraordinary. i _ liberation. yes, it really is. and it is extraordinary. i spoke - liberation. yes, it really is. and it is extraordinary. i spoke to i liberation. yes, it really is. and | it is extraordinary. i spoke to so many— it is extraordinary. i spoke to so many french people about the liberation and what happened here all those _ liberation and what happened here all those years ago, and to a man and to— all those years ago, and to a man and to a _ all those years ago, and to a man and to a woman, they have all said the same _ and to a woman, they have all said the same thing, that, you know, whatever— the same thing, that, you know, whatever the losses were to them, the losses — whatever the losses were to them, the losses were greater to the allies, — the losses were greater to the allies, the sacrifice that was made deserves_ allies, the sacrifice that was made deserves france's undying gratitude, and there _ deserves france's undying gratitude, and there is— deserves france's undying gratitude, and there is no recrimination on the destruction, — and there is no recrimination on the destruction, the civilian losses or anything — destruction, the civilian losses or anything it— destruction, the civilian losses or anything. it is very touching, actually _ anything. it is very touching, actually. it anything. it is very touching, actuall . �* , anything. it is very touching, actuall. �* , ., , actually. a few miles to the west of our memorial— actually. a few miles to the west of our memorial here, _ actually. a few miles to the west of our memorial here, there _ actually. a few miles to the west of our memorial here, there is - actually. a few miles to the west of our memorial here, there is a - actually. a few miles to the west of| our memorial here, there is a small brass plaque to the men of 47 royal marine commando, and it was recently published by monsieur lorileu, now in his late 80s, he was a young boy who remembered the sound of battle. just a few days ago, he got out his steel wool, and cleaned that memorial, for the families who arrived today. the french who died who james has been telling us about, we don't know all their names. we have seen here today the effort to bring the british names together, more than 20,000 names that fell in just three months of the battle of normandy, some of the most ferocious fighting of the war, james.— of the war, james. yes, huge casualty rate. _ of the war, james. yes, huge casualty rate. if _ of the war, james. yes, huge casualty rate. if you - of the war, james. yes, huge casualty rate. if you take - of the war, james. yes, huge casualty rate. if you take it i of the war, james. yes, huge i casualty rate. if you take it as an average — casualty rate. if you take it as an average across the board, from air, land and _ average across the board, from air, land and sea, — average across the board, from air, land and sea, civilians as well, it was worse — land and sea, civilians as well, it was worse than any of the first world — was worse than any of the first world war— was worse than any of the first world war battles in terms of total casualties — world war battles in terms of total casualties. is world war battles in terms of total casualties. , ,.,, , , casualties. is it possible that because d-day _ casualties. is it possible that because d-day is _ casualties. is it possible that because d-day is history's i casualties. is it possible that - because d-day is history's largest because d—day is history's largest armada, it is such a big event in a day that we have not paid the detailed respect of the battle of normandy?— detailed respect of the battle of normand ? , ,., normandy? there is something in that. do normandy? there is something in that- do get _ normandy? there is something in that. do get terribly _ normandy? there is something in that. do get terribly stuck - normandy? there is something in that. do get terribly stuck on - normandy? there is something in that. do get terribly stuck on that| that. do get terribly stuck on that one day — that. do get terribly stuck on that one day. we forget, i think, the huge _ one day. we forget, i think, the huge air— one day. we forget, i think, the huge air battles taking place in the months _ huge air battles taking place in the months leading up to d—day and the 77 days— months leading up to d—day and the 77 days that followed, but it was incredibly— 77 days that followed, but it was incredibly bitter fighting, right up to the _ incredibly bitter fighting, right up to the very end and right up to the liberation — to the very end and right up to the liberation of paris on the 25th of august — liberation of paris on the 25th of august it— liberation of paris on the 25th of au . ust. , liberation of paris on the 25th of au~ust. , ., ., ., august. it is one memorial here which we waited _ august. it is one memorial here which we waited a _ august. it is one memorial here which we waited a long - august. it is one memorial here which we waited a long time - august. it is one memorial here which we waited a long time to | august. it is one memorial here - which we waited a long time to see. and there's many names on 160 columns represent three months that followed d—day. and as james has reminded us, the the standing with joints statues around us, the 1475 silhouettes represent the service men who lost their lives on the 6th ofjune as well as 50 french resistance fighters, and nurses, molly evershed and dorothy field, sisters. raf band plays: i vow to thee george horner. sadly, george was unable to travel to france today. he landed on sword beach age 17. "i would have loved to have been there with you all, "but unfortunately i am not as spritely as i was then! "for my battalion in the royal ulster rifles — "we lost most of our men on 9th june, 26 of my comrades fell. "the people i fought with were just ordinary people, "but when they were needed they never faltered. "i still remember thejokes we shared. "i'm absolutely honoured they are being remembered today." john westlake a leading aircraftsman in the raf during the normandy campaign, shared these words: "i ask you to speak on my behalf to remember all those good men "who feared that no—one would ever know their stories. "we lost so many brave men, the turnover of pilots was high. "i've never forgotten the ones who did not survive. "we went through it all together. "such nice lads, i only wish i knew what happened to them. "i want them to know that they will never be forgotten." just two weeks before d—day, - peter seaborn turned 17—years—old. he was an able seaman serving - in the royal navy — he remembers: "i was aboard my destroyer escorting american troops to the beaches. - |"the sight before my eyes has never| left me: rockets, shelling, bombing, "enemy fire. "we later lost hms- boadicea, a ship escorting "a merchant navy convoy - across the channel, the convoy "just behind mine. "170 men perished and 12 survived. "even though i have never been able to return, - "i am grateful that my words can travel to you, and say a final- "'thank you' in my stead." arthur 0borne landed on gold beach and is with us this morning — i am honoured to stand by the names of the friends he lost. he told me: "not many people can say they survived a sniper shooting "them through the chest. "but thanks to my good friend walter gummerson, gummy "as he was known to us, i can. "he drove me to a field hospital, saving my life. "the next day, my unit was ambushed, shredded, and every man was killed. "i never saw gummy again. "that day, i lost 27 comrades." it is all because of gummy's quick thinking, his desire to help those around him, that i can stand before you today. i wish i could tell him i have never taken his sacrifice for granted and will always remember him and our friends. so gummy, thank you, my old friend. applause walter gummerson was 26. the crowd rises as they have heard that tribute from his friend. walter is buried nine miles south of us. in hottot les bagues war cemetery. his headstone reads: "always remembered by those "who loved him best. "till we meet again." # i will wake in the morning if you call # and i'll stand beside you as long as i can # i will hold back the evening of your sun # but i won't crumble with you if you fall # i will shadow the heat of your days # and i'll drink from the sweat of your brow # i will walk to the tune of your song # but i won't crumble with you if you fall # come and walk with me and hold to my hand # touch me, let me know i am here by myself # stretch my night dreams into my days # stop short of falling apart if i go down # i'll wake in the morning if you call # and i'll stand beside you as long as i can # i will hold back the evening of your sun # but i won't crumble with you if you fall. # sir tom was born on 7thjune 1940. so he was four years old on d day, plus one. his grandfather died in the first world war and is buried here in france. slow march. music: dear lord and father shoulder arms. mr president... 80 years ago our nation and those which _ 80 years ago our nation and those which stood alongside us faced what my grandfather king george vi described as the supreme test. how 14 at we _ described as the supreme test. how 14 at we were and the entire free world _ 14 at we were and the entire free world that — 14 at we were and the entire free world that a generation of men and women _ world that a generation of men and women in _ world that a generation of men and women in the united kingdom and other— women in the united kingdom and other allied nations did not flinch when _ other allied nations did not flinch when the — other allied nations did not flinch when the moment came to face that test. when the moment came to face that test on_ when the moment came to face that test on the — when the moment came to face that test. 0n the beaches of normandy, in the seas— test. 0n the beaches of normandy, in the seas beyond, and in the skies overhead, — the seas beyond, and in the skies overhead, ourarmed the seas beyond, and in the skies overhead, our armed forces carried out their— overhead, our armed forces carried out their duty with a humbling sense of resolve _ out their duty with a humbling sense of resolve and determination. quality— of resolve and determination. quality is _ of resolve and determination. quality is so characteristic of that remarkable wartime generation. but in many— remarkable wartime generation. but in many of— remarkable wartime generation. but in many of them —— many of them never— in many of them —— many of them nevercame— in many of them —— many of them nevercame home. in many of them —— many of them never came home. they lost their lives _ never came home. they lost their lives on _ never came home. they lost their lives on the — never came home. they lost their lives on the d—day landing grounds or in the _ lives on the d—day landing grounds or in the many battles that followed. it is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them profound sense of gratitude that we rememberthem and all profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served _ remember them and all those who served at— remember them and all those who served at that critical time. we recall— served at that critical time. we recall the — served at that critical time. we recall the lesson that comes to us again— recall the lesson that comes to us again and — recall the lesson that comes to us again and again across the decades: free nations — again and again across the decades: free nations must stand together to oppose _ free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny. as the years pass, the veterans of the normandy campaign become ever fewer in numhen — campaign become ever fewer in number. 0verthe campaign become ever fewer in number. over the past 40 years i have _ number. over the past 40 years i have had — number. over the past 40 years i have had the great privilege of attending seven d—day commemorations in normandy and meeting so many distinguished veterans. indeed, i shall— distinguished veterans. indeed, i shall never forget the haunting site and sound — shall never forget the haunting site and sound of thousands of figures with medals proudly marching past into a _ with medals proudly marching past into a french sunset on these beaches _ into a french sunset on these beaches. 0urability into a french sunset on these beaches. our ability to learn from beaches. 0ur ability to learn from their— beaches. our ability to learn from their stories at first hand diminishes but our obligation to remember them, diminishes but our obligation to rememberthem, what diminishes but our obligation to remember them, what they stood for and what _ remember them, what they stood for and what they achieved for us all can never— and what they achieved for us all can never diminish. that is why i am so proud _ can never diminish. that is why i am so proud that— can never diminish. that is why i am so proud that we have a permanent national— so proud that we have a permanent national memorial in normandy, by which _ national memorial in normandy, by which to— national memorial in normandy, by which to remember that more than 22,000 _ which to remember that more than 22,000 service personnel in british units _ 22,000 service personnel in british units who— 22,000 service personnel in british units who gave their lives during the hay— units who gave their lives during the d—day landings and the battle of normandy. it was built at the suggestion of a veteran, george batts _ suggestion of a veteran, george batts he — suggestion of a veteran, george batts. he is sadly no longer with us but lived _ batts. he is sadly no longer with us but lived to— batts. he is sadly no longer with us but lived to see it built and explained on the day it was opened why it _ explained on the day it was opened why it means so much. "we left a lot of mates _ why it means so much. "we left a lot of mates behind and now i know they will never _ of mates behind and now i know they will never be forgotten. " so, for the first— will never be forgotten. " so, for the first time today, we can come together— the first time today, we can come together at gold beach, the objective of their 50th infantry division, — objective of their 50th infantry division, to honour those who fought on this— division, to honour those who fought on this ground 80 years ago and who continued _ on this ground 80 years ago and who continued for three months of the wars— continued for three months of the war's fiercest fighting to secure normandy. this vital start to the liberation of europe — this vital start to the liberation of europe was a vast allied effort. american. — of europe was a vast allied effort. american, british, canadian, french and polish _ american, british, canadian, french and polish cremations fought here in normandy _ and polish cremations fought here in normandy. —— formations. among the walls _ normandy. —— formations. among the walls and _ normandy. —— formations. among the walls and pillars described in this memorial— walls and pillars described in this memorial are men and women from more than 30 _ memorial are men and women from more than 30 different nations and many faiths _ than 30 different nations and many faiths. united, they fought together for what _ faiths. united, they fought together for what my grandfather king george vi described as a world in which goodness — vi described as a world in which goodness and honour may be the foundation of the life of men in every— foundation of the life of men in every land. as we stand alongside their remaining friends and comrades, on this hallowed ground, let us— comrades, on this hallowed ground, let us affirm that we will strive to live by— let us affirm that we will strive to live by their example. let us pray such— live by their example. let us pray such sacrifice need never be made again. _ such sacrifice need never be made again. and — such sacrifice need never be made again, and let us commit to carrying forward _ again, and let us commit to carrying forward their resounding message of courage _ forward their resounding message of courage and resilience in the pursuit— courage and resilience in the pursuit of— courage and resilience in the pursuit of freedom, tempered by the duty of— pursuit of freedom, tempered by the duty of responsibilities to others, for the _ duty of responsibilities to others, for the benefit of younger generations and those yet unborn. 0ur gratitude is unfailing, and admiration eternal. applause music: abide with me they shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. at the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. all: we will remember them. last post plays reveille when you go home, tell them of us and say for your tomorrow, we gave our today 0 eternal lord god, who has united together all veterans of the normandy campaign, grant, we beseech you, your blessing and give strength to carry on our work to aid and bring comradeship to all normandy veterans, and joy and common purpose throughout our association. this we ask this in the name ofjesus christ, whose courage never failed. amen. all: amen. music: "lovingly remembered" by andrew lloyd webber we are from the cecil newton primary school in normandy. cecil and his friends liberated our village of creully and visit us every year on d—day. we remember his friends who lost their lives, and say their names so we never forget. thank you to the veteransl of the normandy campaign for the sacrifices that _ you made so we can live in peace. we promise to remember. always. # lovingly remembered, keepers of the slain, we must neverforget, each soldier has a name. # lovingly remembered, all who gave so much # faces we will never see, has we will never touch. # cloak of sorrow # i wear with regret # lovingly remembered each day # we must not forget # lovingly remembered # keepers of the flame # we must never forget each soldier has a name # cloak of sorrow # i wear with regret # lovingly remembered each day # we must not forget # everlasting, bonds that will not break # lovingly remembered each day # is the pledge we make. # applause music: "nimrod" from enigma variations by edward elgar his majesty the king lays the first wreath on behalf of the nation. the combined bands of the royal air force play nimrod. music: "nimrod" from enigma variations by edward elgar the second wreath, being laid by president macron. president of the french republic. music: "nimrod" from enigma variations by edward elgar stepping forward together, the chief of the defence staff, the prime minister and the royal british legion national chair. music: "nimrod" from enigma variations by edward elgar three cheers for the veterans! hip—hip, hooray! hooray! # allons enfants de la patrie le jour de gloire est arrive # contre nous de la tyrannie l'etendard sanglant est leve # l'etendard sanglant est leve # entendez—vous dans les campagnes mugir ces feroces soldats # ils viennentjusque dans vos bras egorger vos fils, vos compagnes! # aux armes, citoyens formez vos bataillons # marchons, marchons # qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons # ! # god save our gracious king # long live our noble king # god save the king # send him victorious # happy and glorious # long to reign over us # god save the king. # the skies streak red, white and blue. so many powerful testimonies, james. let's begin where we just ended with the red arrows. it is alwa s ended with the red arrows. it is always good _ ended with the red arrows. it is always good to _ ended with the red arrows. it 3 always good to see them, isn't it? a special display today because with their normal big wing, in a v shape, at the back was the typhoon display aircraft, painted in d—day invasion colours with the d—day stripes. the colours with the d-day stripes. the battle colours with the d—day stripes. the battle memorial flight was to be in battle memorialflight was to be in our skies today. however, many will have seen the sad news last week of the death of raf pilot squadron leader mark long. our thoughts are with him and his family. please remain in your seats for the next few _ please remain in your seats for the next few minutes. _ the figures are the work of the british sculptor david williams ellis. his father was an officer in the royal navy who convert any magga commanded a vessel supporting the normandy operation. james, the testimonies we have heard during the service were very powerful and moving. i saw you visibly moved. yes, you would need a steel heart not to be moved by that. i thought so many wonderful moments in that. i suppose of course the veterans are the standout. arthur 0sborne, the eulogy to his last friend walter gummerson who lost his life. i think we can all have a weep at some point today. we can all have a weep at some point toda . �* . . we can all have a weep at some point toda .�* we can all have a weep at some point toda. ., ., today. and as you say, the name of john bennett. _ today. and as you say, the name of john bennett, we _ today. and as you say, the name of john bennett, we see _ today. and as you say, the name of john bennett, we see other - today. and as you say, the name of| john bennett, we see other veterans coming towards us and i can tell you the exhortation dead! was delivered by ken hay from the fourth infantry regiment and he is an ambassador for the memorial here. now injust a moment the king and the president will head down to the civilian memorial to the french. at the moment, what we are watching is the gathering together of our veterans, who because they have been within the memorial, this could very much be the first time they get a moment to stare back out at the sea. and we can share that moment with them. arranged for us with thanks to the royal british legion. among the faces here today, cecil newton, whose words inspired the piece of music we heard. alan frank kennett, a flight mechanic engineer with the royal air force. alec penstone of the royal navy. arnold salter of the royal navy. jack mortimer is waving at us. i feel royal navy. jack mortimer is waving at us. ifeel we royal navy. jack mortimer is waving at us. i feel we want to wave back to you, jack. the flower he is holding was given to him by a member of the cecil newton primary school. he is 100 now. he was in the royal army ordnance corps and currently lives in seacroft, in leeds. the flowers given by the children harking back to the first moments of liberation, when citizens and farmers through blooms of blossoms onto tanks, jeeps and into the arms of allied forces, afterfour years of allied forces, afterfour years of occupation, the moment of liberation came. and that flour that we saw being handed by the young people to our veterans is an absolute echo of what happened here. —— that flower. in those days and weeks, as france finally won liberation. this is albert keir, shaking hands with his king. he served under charles iii's grandfather, george vi. himself a veteran ofjutland. he served on hms potent ella. look at his smile. james, you are telling us that there is a lot of pride, it is appropriate to smile, it is a sign that i am alive, i made it.— alive, i made it. yes, it is terrific — alive, i made it. yes, it is terrific to _ alive, i made it. yes, it is terrific to see _ alive, i made it. yes, it is terrific to see these - alive, i made it. yes, it is- terrific to see these incredible old men having such a wonderful day here and being honoured in the way they are. and i think that service, that whole programme has been so profoundly moving. it has been so touching and i think all the more so because we know this remarkable generation is sadly coming to an end. the sun is setting on those men that gave so much all those years ago. it was interesting, time and again during that service, the warnings, as well, don't forget, learn the lessons, don't let this happen again. learn the lessons, don't let this happen again-— learn the lessons, don't let this hauenarain. . , happen again. certainly i saw some very young — happen again. certainly i saw some very young faces — happen again. certainly i saw some very young faces in _ happen again. certainly i saw some very young faces in the _ happen again. certainly i saw some very young faces in the serving - very young faces in the serving military standing side by side with our veterans. military standing side by side with ourveterans. it military standing side by side with our veterans. it was a reminder to me of the age of those that died here, and those that survived here. one old man said it to me like 0ne old man said it to me like this, he said, "we all set off from england. some of us never returned from france." it is certainly a moment to savour, isn't it? during the day that we have been witnessing, we have heard so many first—hand testimonies and here, to the left of our picture we see charles hall, a royal naval veteran. he served on a minesweeper alongside the american forces. he arrived just before the d—day landings. arrived just before the d-day landinus. �* ., , arrived just before the d-day landins. �* ., , ., arrived just before the d-day landinus. �* ., , ., ., landings. and gos, paddy, what a 'ob as minesweepers �* landings. and gos, paddy, what a 'ob as minesweepers did, i landings. and gos, paddy, what a 'ob as minesweepers did, completely i as minesweepers did, completely forgotten, their efforts but, between 7—10 miles out to sea were huge _ between 7—10 miles out to sea were huge belts— between 7—10 miles out to sea were huge belts of mines which had to be swept _ huge belts of mines which had to be swept ahead of the invasion force and they— swept ahead of the invasion force and they did it absolutely 100% successfully. not a single vessel was lost. — successfully. not a single vessel was lost, getting through those minefields on the rate in normandy. i met— minefields on the rate in normandy. i met a _ minefields on the rate in normandy. i met a gentleman, geoffrey weaving, he's watching from is karen, he is now 100. — he's watching from is karen, he is now 100. he — he's watching from is karen, he is now 100, he served he's watching from is karen, he is now100, he served in he's watching from is karen, he is now 100, he served in navigational ships— now 100, he served in navigational ships among the minesweepers and he saw, ships among the minesweepers and he saw. what _ ships among the minesweepers and he saw, what he saw atjuno beach from a ship _ saw, what he saw atjuno beach from a ship in _ saw, what he saw atjuno beach from a ship in the — saw, what he saw atjuno beach from a ship in the channel, he said it wants— a ship in the channel, he said it wants him. _ a ship in the channel, he said it wants him, he described it as carnage _ wants him, he described it as carnage. brigitte macron, shaking the hand — carnage. brigitte macron, shaking the hand of richard trelise, a midshipman, from burnham—on—sea. james. i_ midshipman, from burnham—on—sea. james. i have— midshipman, from burnham—on—sea. james, i have a sense that this is something that the dignitaries are greatly enjoying, taking as much time as they can to shake the hand of history. time as they can to shake the hand of histo . ., .. , of history. you can see the president of _ of history. you can see the president of france - of history. you can see the president of france visibly| of history. you can see the - president of france visibly moved as he laid _ president of france visibly moved as he laid his— president of france visibly moved as he laid his wreath as you can see his majesty the king repeatedly also very touched by what he was seeing and hearing. as i said a moment ago, it would _ and hearing. as i said a moment ago, it would require the hardest of hearts. — it would require the hardest of hearts, not to be profoundly touched by what _ hearts, not to be profoundly touched by what we've witnessed today. here, we see eugenius _ by what we've witnessed today. here, we see eugenius meade, _ by what we've witnessed today. here, we see eugenius meade, 100, - by what we've witnessed today. here, we see eugenius meade, 100, an - by what we've witnessed today. fisk's, we see eugenius meade, 100, an army veteran, talking to the king. now, injust a moment veteran, talking to the king. now, in just a moment we will see the event come to a close here, and it still possible, we think, that the president will award the legion d'honneur, and i'm looking at the crowd, for the face of the woman who will be receiving it christian lamb, and here, iscour the will be receiving it christian lamb, and here, i scour the faces for a woman i was privileged to meet. she was a wren who helped to draw the d—day maps, meaning that she had the names of the beaches in advance. james, we must go back to where we started, the whole memorial was the idea of veterans themselves with help the pain of having no single memorial, and here, we see the whole event coming together, thanks to the determination and drive, as the queen meets gilbert clarke, a mechanic in the royal air force. in and yes, it is such a stunningly beautiful memorial. it is just done so perfectly, i think. you cannot see how it could possibly be better and particularly on this day of days, june the 6th, 80 years on from those tumultuous events on d—day, the skies are blue, the skylarks are singing, people are gathered around watching this extraordinary, extraordinary scenes, the veterans treated sort of, with more respect than even the royalty, i think. they are the royalty for today. i than even the royalty, i think. they are the royalty for today.— are the royalty for today. i think we can be _ are the royalty for today. i think we can be sure _ are the royalty for today. i think we can be sure that _ are the royalty for today. i think we can be sure that the - are the royalty for today. i think we can be sure that the queen l we can be sure that the queen would echo your sentiments. as i mentioned earlier she is the daughter of a very highly decorated world war ii veteran. and you can only imagine the bond that she must feel as she shakes the hand of this gentleman, who is clearly a royal marine. i also think it is remarkable that its position perched on a hill, overlooking gold beach, it is almost the centre of the allied line, the invasion front, the middle invasion beach of five. looking out to those seas,... ., ., beach of five. looking out to those seas,... ., . , ., ~ seas,... the queen are shaking the hand of bernard _ seas,... the queen are shaking the hand of bernard morgan, _ seas,... the queen are shaking the hand of bernard morgan, 100. - seas,... the queen are shaking the hand of bernard morgan, 100. it i seas,... the queen are shaking the hand of bernard morgan, 100. it is| hand of bernard morgan, 100. it is interesting to me how often i'm saying the word, 100. it is a reminder of what this generation represents. he was a code breaker. the youngest royal air force sergeant to land in normandy. back here today, proudly representing his unit, the air force. look at him, thejoy on his unit, the air force. look at him, the joy on his face today to be here, to be meeting the queen. to be holding a flower given to him by a young lad from a primary school named after another british veteran, cecil newton. next to him, henry rice, royal naval veteran, a signalman serving on hms eastway, he used to supply men and equipment to various beaches, and he arrived on juno beach of d—day plus five. the queen is taking her time with every veteran. she is as proud, i think, as we are, to watch, she is as proud to meet them all today. i5 as we are, to watch, she is as proud to meet them all today.— to meet them all today. is worth ”ointin to meet them all today. is worth pointing out. _ to meet them all today. is worth pointing out, paddy, _ to meet them all today. is worth pointing out, paddy, that - to meet them all today. is worth pointing out, paddy, that it i pointing out, paddy, that it doesn't matter what time you so, whether it was the early part of the war away after the normandy campaign, everyone who did so was still putting their life on the line, doing their bit to win the war. d—day was the moment the free world learned that the liberation of western europe had begun. enslaved and occupied peoples heard on the radio that this moment had come. it had been long expected but no one knew where or when the invasion force would come. in fact hitler personally believed it would be to the east at the pas de calais and that history's largest armada was in fact a diversion. let's see if we can watch this moment all the award of the legion d'honneur to bettering wren, christian lamb, from the french president. —— to our bettering wren. —— veteran wren. kristin turns 104 injuly. and i think the president is going to speak. —— christian turns 104. he clearly wants to make it plain what he is going to do, by talking to his majesty. what he is going to do, by talking to his majesty-— what he is going to do, by talking to his majesty. to his ma'esty. your ma'estys,... it works? to his majesty. your ma'estys,... it works? your— to his majesty. your ma'estys,... it works? your majestys, i to his majesty. your majestys,... it works? your majestys, mr- to his majesty. your majestys,... it works? your majestys, mr prime i works? your majestys, mr prime minister. — works? your majestys, mr prime minister, ministers, veterans of the d-day_ minister, ministers, veterans of the d—day landings, mrs christian lamb, ladies _ d—day landings, mrs christian lamb, ladies and _ d—day landings, mrs christian lamb, ladies and gentlemen. thank you for your word _ ladies and gentlemen. thank you for your word and your presence, i think it means _ your word and your presence, i think it means a _ your word and your presence, i think it means a lot— your word and your presence, i think it means a lot for all of the veterans— it means a lot for all of the veterans here today and for us. and the way— veterans here today and for us. and the way that— veterans here today and for us. and the way that you express yourself, your history, our history, and for our civilians. _ your history, our history, and for our civilians, i would say as the president. _ our civilians, i would say as the president, for both of you to be here _ president, for both of you to be here today, it means a lot for everybody. around this memorial, standing _ everybody. around this memorial, standing proud on the soil of normandy, these 1475 silhouettes representing each british soldier who made their heroic sacrifice on d-day _ who made their heroic sacrifice on d-day the — who made their heroic sacrifice on d—day. the 1475 he was from history are your _ d—day. the 1475 he was from history are your brothers in arms. and i know— are your brothers in arms. and i know that — are your brothers in arms. and i know that today, you remember, and they are _ know that today, you remember, and they are with us. and let me say that nobody here in france, in normandy, can forget their sacrifice and your— normandy, can forget their sacrifice and your sacrifice, and your presence _ and your sacrifice, and your presence today with us, is such an important — presence today with us, is such an important day. you are already honoured — important day. you are already honoured by the french republic, but we wanted _ honoured by the french republic, but we wanted to add just a special moment— we wanted to add just a special moment for you, mrs lamb, you are one of— moment for you, mrs lamb, you are one of those — moment for you, mrs lamb, you are one of those heroes in the shadow, i would _ one of those heroes in the shadow, i would say, _ one of those heroes in the shadow, i would say. a — one of those heroes in the shadow, i would say, a wren as the female roval— would say, a wren as the female royal navy officers were known in their blue — royal navy officers were known in their blue and white uniforms. before — their blue and white uniforms. before you, your father fought bravely — before you, your father fought bravely in the first world war. your family— bravely in the first world war. your family lost— bravely in the first world war. your family lost friends and at the age of 18. _ family lost friends and at the age of 18. who — family lost friends and at the age of 18, who left school and came to live with _ of 18, who left school and came to live with a — of 18, who left school and came to live with a family here, to learn our language and just a few months in 1939— our language and just a few months in 1939 he _ our language and just a few months in 1939 he received a telegram from your father. — in 1939 he received a telegram from your father, telling you that the war was— your father, telling you that the warwas imminent, and your father, telling you that the war was imminent, and to return to london _ war was imminent, and to return to london immediately. shortly after that. _ london immediately. shortly after that. you — london immediately. shortly after that, you began working as a clerk for the _ that, you began working as a clerk for the royal navy and then became an officer— for the royal navy and then became an officer responsible for locating ships— an officer responsible for locating ships based on data sent from your weather— ships based on data sent from your weather stations. in one of the most dramatic— weather stations. in one of the most dramatic moments of your life, you had to— dramatic moments of your life, you had to plot— dramatic moments of your life, you had to plot the ship of your own fiancee. — had to plot the ship of your own fiancee. a — had to plot the ship of your own fiancee, a commander on a royal navy destroyer— fiancee, a commander on a royal navy destroyer engaged in a battle with some _ destroyer engaged in a battle with some 40 _ destroyer engaged in a battle with some 40 german u—boats, and the british— some 40 german u—boats, and the british destroyer rammed and sank a u-boat_ british destroyer rammed and sank a “boat and _ british destroyer rammed and sank a u—boat and you were able to marry your fiance. — u—boat and you were able to marry your fiance, at the end of 1943, but in fact— your fiance, at the end of 1943, but in fact the — your fiance, at the end of 1943, but in fact the story was just beginning. in1944, in fact the story was just beginning. in 1944, you were assigned _ beginning. in 1944, you were assigned to help plan the d—day landings — assigned to help plan the d—day landings from winston churchill's secret _ landings from winston churchill's secret war — landings from winston churchill's secret war rooms in london, when all of europe _ secret war rooms in london, when all of europe was speculating about the location of— of europe was speculating about the location of the landings, when nazi germany— location of the landings, when nazi germany didn't know where to send its divisions, you knew the exact location. — its divisions, you knew the exact location. as— its divisions, you knew the exact location, as it was pinpointed on a large-scale — location, as it was pinpointed on a large—scale map of the normandy coast. _ large—scale map of the normandy coast. on — large—scale map of the normandy coast, on the ball of your small below— coast, on the ball of your small below stairs office. your brief was to delineate each landing position visible _ to delineate each landing position visible from the bridge, for approaching landing craft, so that the troops — approaching landing craft, so that the troops could get their bearings. it required — the troops could get their bearings. it required precision and it was intense and exciting work. as you said. _ intense and exciting work. as you said. you — intense and exciting work. as you said, you were just one piece of the jigsaw _ said, you were just one piece of the jigsaw but — said, you were just one piece of the jigsaw. but the success of the entire — jigsaw. but the success of the entire operation on the jigsaw and the sternness of your office was the first step _ the sternness of your office was the first step leading to the din of the battlefield and when you have the official— battlefield and when you have the official radio announcement of the landings _ official radio announcement of the landings onjune the sticks, you were. _ landings onjune the sticks, you were. in— landings onjune the sticks, you were, in your own way, one of those figures _ were, in your own way, one of those figures in _ were, in your own way, one of those figures in the — were, in your own way, one of those figures in the shadows of d—day. you were not— figures in the shadows of d—day. you were not there in person, dear christian— were not there in person, dear christian lamb, but you guided each step they— christian lamb, but you guided each step they took. after that life resumes _ step they took. after that life resumes you left the navy, but we have never— resumes you left the navy, but we have never forgotten those intense, heroic— have never forgotten those intense, heroic hours, 50 years later you recounted — heroic hours, 50 years later you recounted them publicly to the memory— recounted them publicly to the memory of all those who spent those bitter— memory of all those who spent those bitter and _ memory of all those who spent those bitter and glorious hours with you, you have _ bitter and glorious hours with you, you have set as an example which we will not _ you have set as an example which we will not forget. france will never forget _ will not forget. france will never forget the — will not forget. france will never forget the british troops who landed on may, _ forget the british troops who landed on d—day, and all their brothers in arms _ on d—day, and all their brothers in arms that— on d—day, and all their brothers in arms. that faith in freedom, which you have _ arms. that faith in freedom, which you have never lost, that constance, selflessness — you have never lost, that constance, selflessness and devotion must guide us and _ selflessness and devotion must guide us and serve as a duty to us. we are honoured _ us and serve as a duty to us. we are honoured by— us and serve as a duty to us. we are honoured by the ties of remembrance, friendship— honoured by the ties of remembrance, friendship and loyalty which are forged. — friendship and loyalty which are forged, between two countries, and let me _ forged, between two countries, and let me thank all of you for this bravery — let me thank all of you for this brave . ,, applause he continues in french. a flower given from the heart, a medal given from the head of state. christian said to me, i don't know if anyone used my maps and i think we can safely say today, he has come your answer, yes, they did, and a thank you from the people of france. james, something quite informal about this, compared with what we have seen, the majesty and pomp and splendour of the memorial. there is something very informal somehow about this. . ., about this. yes, and it felt incredibly _ about this. yes, and it felt incredibly heartfelt, i about this. yes, and it felt incredibly heartfelt, didn't| about this. yes, and it felt i incredibly heartfelt, didn't it? from the depths of his heart. he is a very proud man and very proud of france's history and has always been proud of europe's ties, i think. and there it was laid clear. what a remarkable lady she is. absolutely a picture of elegance, of stoicism, and plaque ability, all of those characteristics which we associate with that wartime generation. brute characteristics which we associate with that wartime generation. we do. the americans _ with that wartime generation. we do. the americans used _ with that wartime generation. we do. the americans used the _ with that wartime generation. we do. the americans used the phrase i with that wartime generation. we do. the americans used the phrase the i the americans used the phrase the greatest generation but the story that the president told takes us right to the heart of her young life, when she plotted the action in which her fiance was involved, life, when she plotted the action in which herfiance was involved, not knowing if he would survive. that was part of the work before she got to the d—day map room. she told me she saw winston churchill on several occasions, he came to supervise the work. she is a witness to history and today, she has been told by the french president that she is a part of this history. she is absolutely remarkable, isn't she? there was definitely... she looks moved now but there was a deep stoicism and pragmatism in that generation, wasn't there? that helped them get through some of those darkest hours. the helped them get through some of those darkest hours.— those darkest hours. the wrens a art of those darkest hours. the wrens a part of the _ those darkest hours. the wrens a part of the royal _ those darkest hours. the wrens a part of the royal navy _ those darkest hours. the wrens a part of the royal navy and - those darkest hours. the wrens a part of the royal navy and we i those darkest hours. the wrens a | part of the royal navy and we had from the royal veteran earlier to make tribute to the armed forces. the bravery of people who stepped onto the beach from the craft they were working on as members of the royal navy and we saw the tribute to the royal air force, whose work bringing men back paved the way for the allied invasion of france, the normandy landings. together now, the heads of state and the queen and the first lady are stepping west, along, parallel with the beach to reach a small square memorial thatjames was small square memorial that james was telling small square memorial thatjames was telling us about earlier to the french civilians. when the king turned to that part of his speech, he spoke in french to describe the incalculable losses of the french civilians. it was very noticeable to me the president thanked him in english on the soil of normandy for what it said about the french civilians. there isjohn. and to look at this man who told us of his pain, feeling a sense of pride, happiness, their service is over. this is a part of their celebration. it was what was won, freedom was won and people likejohn grew old. leaving behind people of their age and i can see a lot of smiles here, james. . . and i can see a lot of smiles here, james. , , . ., , james. yes, it is terrific to see, it really is- _ james. yes, it is terrific to see, it really is. it _ james. yes, it is terrific to see, it really is. it is _ james. yes, it is terrific to see, it really is. it is but _ james. yes, it is terrific to see, it really is. it is but it _ james. yes, it is terrific to see, it really is. it is but it is - it really is. it is but it is poignant and wistful as well, isn't it? applause now wejoin the now we join the king and the president as they approach the french memorial. notjust civilian names but members who served under cover, james, people who served, men and women in the resistance. yes. and women in the resistance. yes, and women in the resistance. yes, and the president _ and women in the resistance. yes, and the president talked _ and women in the resistance. jae: and the president talked about women in the shadows but also men and women in the shadows in the resistance in france. what a terrible task that was, never knowing when you would be betrayed, living on edge the entire time. by the early part of 1944, the resistance was brought under control of london and organised from their in coordination with the special operations executive, mi6 in coordination with the special operations executive, m16 and of course combined services, as well. applause that was the queen and the first lady, who stepped away from the civil memorial and we rejoin sophie. well, what an extraordinary morning here at the british normandy memorial. i had spent many days now with some of these veterans i'm just wonderful to see them at the heart of this service. so much pride, so much pleasure to be here and they are really determined to be here for those who could not be, for the fallen. and this memorial itself, that was the idea of one d—day veteran, george batts, back in 2015 and is here now, realised and permanent. a permanent memorialfor all of those who lost their lives. the ages here, so young. as young as my own children on the pillars. what struck me most this morning wasjohn dennett, who served with the royal navy, who spoke to us. he took one look out here come the first time he had looked from the memorial out to sea, out to gold beach, and hejust said "it is a lot quieter here today that it was all of those years ago." he told us how honoured he was to be here, for all of those who could not be. commander montgomery said when they landed here they would strike a blow for freedom which will living history. it is to them that we owe the greatest banks, the normandy veterans. alone among the wartime allies for years there was no single british memorial and this was their lifetime wish. i looked at one inscription to trooper arthur cole,, and then score, dearest daddy and husband in the world, we will love you for ever, darling. royal navy veteran alec penstone is here and braved the ice in fire of the arctic convoys, he served on his ship hunting submarines. i asked him, what should we do after you are all gone? he said, "carry on, son, carry on." 8o 80 years ago here in the dawn mist in stormy seas, the horizon filled with history's largest armada. it was d—day. we are humbled to be with you and for what you did that day, we will always be grateful. so, gummy, thank you, my old friends — friends. it - friends. it is with the most friends. — it is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them. you are watching bbc news. we continue our coverage of those commemorations of d—day because eight years ago today, tens of thousands of allied troops mounted the greatest seaborne invasion in military history and that would change the of the second world war. this morning d—day veterans and world leaders are taking part in major commemorations in northern france. atjust before 6.30 on the morning ofjune 6th, 1944, british, american, canadian and french soldiers began to land on sword, juno, gold, omaha and utah beaches , assaults that would lead to the eventual liberation of france from nazi occupation. this morning the new british normandy memorial — in ver—sur—mer — above gold beach — has been inaugurated by the king and queen. king charles and queen camilla were joined by veterans, the guests of honour... for the anniversary of a day that sir winston churchill, called "the most complicated and difficult" operation of world war two. you are watching pictures of the king who laid a rhys for the folan and president emmanuel mccrone and prime minister rishi sunak. let's take you to what is happening live, this is in another part of normandy where an event is taking place for american veterans. president biden and the first lady attended this event. we saw them earlier talking to american veterans who have also been arriving all the way from america. also, if we take you somewhere else, we can see canadian veterans and canadian soldiers being commemorated with bagpipes playing by a beach. let's have a listen. applause you heard the bagpipes being bullied to commemorate fallen canadian soldiers, prince william has been at this canadian commemorative ceremony atjuno beach in normandy and he thanked the canadian veterans for their extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice. he said we continue to honour every canadian who gave so much, every canadian who gave so much, every canadian family who lost a loved one. let's cross live and speak to juliet who is the national reporter for cbc news and has been covering the canadian commemorations. can you give us a sense of how it has been so far? how poignant it is now to think back that those canadian soldiers who gave their lives 80 years ago. soldiers who gave their lives 80 years ago-— soldiers who gave their lives 80 ears auo. , , ., ~ years ago. yes, this whole week every day _ years ago. yes, this whole week every day that — years ago. yes, this whole week every day that we _ years ago. yes, this whole week every day that we have - years ago. yes, this whole week every day that we have been i years ago. yes, this whole week i every day that we have been here, there have been events taking place commemorating, honouring the canadian to get their lives, the 14,000 soldiers who stormed the beach right here behind me. they started the process of liberation. we have been to many events in and around the community ever since we got here earlier this week. one particular event was an exhibit opening at thejuno beach centre and the 13 veterans who came from canada, when they were brought off the buses and being brought inside, there were crowds that swarmed them like they were rock stars. people were clamouring to take the photographs, people were lining up to get an opportunity to touch them. other ceremonies have included an unveiling of the statue honouring one of the first regiment to land on juno beach and that was overseen by princess anne. she is well thanked the regiment for the work they don and spent some time speaking with active members. last night, we were at the cemetery where more than 2000 canadians have been buried. it is a stark place when you arrive and you see these rows and rows of headstones for young canadian men, on these headstones, there are their names, their regiments, the day that they died and often their ages, when you see the age that they were, some as young as 18 years old, that is when it really hits you. abyss. as young as 18 years old, that is when it really hits you.— when it really hits you. as i'm talkin: when it really hits you. as i'm talking to _ when it really hits you. as i'm talking to you. _ when it really hits you. as i'm talking to you, we _ when it really hits you. as i'm talking to you, we are - when it really hits you. as i'm talking to you, we are seeing | when it really hits you. as i'm i talking to you, we are seeing live pictures of prince william and justin trudeau walking ontojuno beach, it looks like they are going to be laying a wreath map, they are paying their respects to those who lost their lives there. how significant is this anniversary to canadians? is it being marked in canada? do people talk about in canada? do people talk about in canada in the way they do here in the uk? , ., , . the uk? they are very much in the same way. — the uk? they are very much in the same way, events _ the uk? they are very much in the same way, events are _ the uk? they are very much in the same way, events are taking i the uk? they are very much in the same way, events are taking place across the country, many people were able to come here, but for those who were not, there are significant ceremonies across canada, one happening for veterans who were not able to make the trip across the ocean to come here. the connection between france and canada is incredibly strong. we have spoken to so many people here who came, who had those direct ties to soldiers who landed here onjuno beach. the last time theirfamilies who landed here onjuno beach. the last time their families were here, they were being shot at. it's incredible for them to come back now and see this town thanking canadians. everywhere you go, there are canadian flags flying from houses, one streets, on shop fronts, we have to local french people who cannot express enough how grateful we are for the work, the sacrifice of those canadian soldiers made so they could live the life that there were few today.— they could live the life that there were few today. while we listen to the brass band _ were few today. while we listen to the brass band who _ were few today. while we listen to the brass band who are _ were few today. while we listen to the brass band who are playing i were few today. while we listen to the brass band who are playing as| the brass band who are playing as prince william and justin trudeau walk back from the beach. let's have a listen. brass band plays well, there we have the brass band playing. let's bring juliet back, as i talk to you, i am watching prince william and justin trudeau walking back towards the memorial. other than what you have talked about, what is going to happen later in the day? we what is going to happen later in the da ? ~ ., what is going to happen later in the da ? . ., 4' ., what is going to happen later in the da? ., ., ., day? we do know that in a little while, day? we do know that in a little while. the _ day? we do know that in a little while. the 13 — day? we do know that in a little while, the 13 veterans _ day? we do know that in a little while, the 13 veterans who i day? we do know that in a little | while, the 13 veterans who came day? we do know that in a little i while, the 13 veterans who came from canada, there will be heading towards juno beach canada, there will be heading towardsjuno beach and a few days ago when we were here, we saw they had laid down some materials on the sand because as you can understand, the youngest of them are in their late 90s, most of them are in wheelchairs. this will be an easier way for them to be able to get to the beach, to stand on the sand. to remember those who were lost that particular day. i think that is going to be one of the things that people here are most looking forward to seeing, it really brings things full circle to have those veterans have that experience here. i know there have — have that experience here. i know there have been _ have that experience here. i know there have been a _ have that experience here. i know there have been a number- have that experience here. i know there have been a number of- have that experience here. i know i there have been a number of american veterans and of course uk ones, do we know any stories of canadian veterans who are here and have been introduced to prince william earlier today? we introduced to prince william earlier toda ? . ., ~ ., ., introduced to prince william earlier toda 7. ., ~ ., ., ., today? we do know of some of the veterans who _ today? we do know of some of the veterans who have, _ today? we do know of some of the veterans who have, their _ today? we do know of some of the veterans who have, their families, | veterans who have, theirfamilies, not only their children, but grandchildren, great—grandchildren, and some who have made it a really big family affair. they want everyone to fully understand what happened here on these hallowed grounds. we know it has been really special for grounds. we know it has been really specialfor some grounds. we know it has been really special for some of these family members who have come to be able to experience all of that together. thank you very much indeed. a technical glitch they are giving us two screens instead of one. we have gone back to one screen. we are going to leave the canadian commemorations as they continue with some live music which i'm sure is very good. we are going to move on, there is so much to cover, so much has happened, and so much has been said. addressing the ceremony addressing the ceremony, king charles expressed gratitude expressed gratitude for the sacrifices of the wartime generation. over the past 40 years, i have attended seven d—day celebrations in normandy and i have met so many distinguished veterans. indeed, i shall never forget the haunting site and sound of thousands of meddled figures proudly matching passed into a french sunset on these beaches. our ability to learn from their stories at first hand diminishes, but our obligation to remember them, what they stood for, and what they achieved for us all, can never diminish. achieved for us all, can never diminish-— achieved for us all, can never diminish. �*, ., ,, y., ., ., diminish. let's take you live now to where queen _ diminish. let's take you live now to where queen camilla _ diminish. let's take you live now to where queen camilla and _ diminish. let's take you live now to where queen camilla and king i diminish. let's take you live now to i where queen camilla and king charles r. i don't know if you can see queen camilla talking to men in uniform, and emmanuel macron is near the card. you can't really see very well, i can't see very well, i'm not sure how well you can see at home. they are still talking to veterans and soldiers and two other members of the french contingent and the uk contingent who are all meeting each other in normandy at the end of what has been the first part of today's ceremony. as veterans who are front and centre of today gathered, there was a recitation of for the fallen. they shall grow not old is we who are left grow old, age shall not weary them. nor the years condemn. at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. it so moving. it was notjust at that particular area in normandy, at those big beaches, juno beach, gold beach, where commemorations have been taking place. the main events were taking place there but there have been smaller events in other parts of normandy. we area we are a couple of miles away from ver—sur—mer, here is the beach... it was then the medal of the five undergrads for the allied forces... i don't think we can stay with jerry, the audio quality was not up to standard. we will try and get him back. if we get him back, we will get him back for you as soon as we can. in the meantime, a number of veterans will be in attendance as we said earlier. they are hugely important for what is happening today and for one specific veteran, this is a very, very special day indeed. as a young woman royal naval service offered, christian lamb tried to make sure british troops were in exactly the right place when it scrambled onto the beaches under enemy fire. she has been presented with the legion of honour by emmanuel macron today. our correspondent met christian lamb earlier. here is her story. before d—day began, planning for operation overlord, as it was known, took many months, if not years. working alone in a basement room in whitehall, christian lamb created maps for the landing craft that were central to the amphibious attack. last month, we travelled here to normandy with christian, who saw the beaches she'd charted 80 years ago for the very first time. it looks absolutely wonderful, so clear and so blue and it's so attractive. i don't suppose it looked like that then, really. one was very worried about it and expecting ghastly things to happen. these are what i am supposed to have made. these are the maps you made. amazing. we also showed her an original invasion map. again, something she'd never seen before. this will have saved lives. i hope so. there will have been so many lives lost. but perhaps one or two saved. i'm sure more than that. and you think of how young they all were too. and also brave, so desperately keen to win. her role would have been vital, so today she'll be presented with france's highest honour, the legion d'honneur. i'm just amazed, really. i'm not expecting that sort of thing. president macron will give christian her medal here in ver—sur—mer, so she says she's brushing up on her french. i spent the morning trying to go through my french dictionary to find some really polite things to say in french, because i used to be absolutely bilingual when i was young and i lived in france for a whole year, and now i've forgotten it all. but as we witnessed at a school here in northern france last month, christian is being far too modest about her linguistic skills. she speaks french. i feel wonderful. thrilled by it all. yesterday she was flown from portsmouth with pat owtram, also a recipient of the medal... i like yours very much. yes. i've always been ratherjealous of it. ..wishing her bon voyage. have a good trip. thank you very much. very exciting. with the distinctive red ribbon and white cross, the people of france are bestowing their highest honour on someone who for many years kept silent about their top secret work but today, at long last, will receive the recognition she deserves. as you were watching john talking to the amazing christian lamb, we brought you live pictures of prince william meeting with those canadian veterans. let's have a quick look this. we cannot hear anything but i can tell you that prince william earlier on said, we continue to honour every canadian who gave so much, every canadian family who lost a loved one. he thanked canadian veterans for their extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice and then he ended his speech by saying in french, thank you for our freedom and thank you for your service. so there we havejustin trudeau the canadian prime minister also meeting veterans. we heard earlierfrom julia in canada that quite a few canadian veterans have made the journey from canada, it must be tough for them, many of them in advanced years, but made the journey all the way from canada with their families because they felt it so important to be here to remember those who have fallen and to also think about the sacrifices made by so many people throughout the second world war. as i mentioned earlier, this has been a commemoration that has been very much in focus for the british, the french, the americans and indeed, as he can see here, the canadians as well. —— as you can see here. the landings happened on the 6th ofjune1944 when tens of thousands of soldiers landed on those five beaches in normandy in northern france. that was 80 years ago. so many of these men are well into their 90s, some may even be over the age of 100. you can see prince william here, he and princess and earlier attended the commemoratives ceremony atjuno beach, one of those big normandy beaches earlier this evening. his father king charles earlier laid a wreath at the memorial at ver—sur—mer with a note attached, touching on the sacrifices made on d—day. prince william is doing this walkabout now with canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau and france's prime minister, the menu can see nearest to the camera. as they so shake the hands of veterans, you can see the families of those who have come here behind them. they must be so proud to be there today with their grandfathers, fathers, great uncles, uncles... let's take you now somewhere else and leave the canadian commemoration and take you to king charles, who is sat down talking to veterans. i'm not sure if we had any audio. is there any audio, steve? i'm afraid we don't have audio from this conversation, which is a shame, it would have been nice to have a listen to what they are saying. earlier on, the king described this as a remarkable wartime generation. you could tell that this meant so much to him, there was emotion in his voice, wasn't there? he said, it is with the most profound sense of gratitude we remember them and all those that serve lui maxted at a critical time. with speeches done, reefs laid, he has left queen camilla and... now, there she is. —— and all that served at that critical time. she is sat with soldiers and veterans. the both of them attended the event earlier on, which as i mentioned, president macron gave a really good speech, actually, and he thanked the sacrifice of british soldiers in english before ending it in french as well. i think if we look on the table, what are they eating a? of a having croissants? afternoon tea? getting away from the midday sun, it's a lovely day in normandy, it's it's a lovely day in normandy, its warm and sunny. very different to the same day 80 years ago, which was described by one soldier as a wet and overcast day. here we have the two respective royal family members, the father on the left, the sun on the father on the left, the sun on the right, king charles and prince william, both of them in a different way commemorating the fallen. prince william is talking to canadian veterans together with justin trudeau the canadian prime minister and the french prime minister gabriel attal. and king charles and prince camilla both sitting with their british veterans, i believe they are, who have made thejourney with their families to commemorate theirfallen comrade. we with their families to commemorate their fallen comrade. we will stay on these pictures and bring you more of what is happening, because it's a pretty busy day for the royal family, princess anne is also involved. i heard earlier she was involved. i heard earlier she was involved at the canadian commemoration. we have also had a few stars, famous celebrities taking part. we saw this welsh singer tom jones take the platform and he song i won't crumble with you if you fall. of i won't crumble with you if you fall. of course we know his grandfather died in world war i and is buried in france, so clearly a very emotional moment for him. we also saw the actor martin freeman making a speech earlier on and we have also seen a number of french celebrities, one red memories from french civilian who is also in the audience. a wide variety of people coming to this ceremony. as we know, early the king made a really emotional speech, talking about the supreme test of the d—day generation and he then said, the generation did not flinch when the moment came to face that test. talking of generations, my colleague sophie ray worth mentioned earlier the memorial where she stood had the name and ages of all the soldiers that had fallen at the battle of d—day and noted how young they were. these were very young men. they were barely men. they were so brave and they gave their lives for the freedom of europe and indeed the freedom of europe and indeed the free world. i mentioned earlier the actor martin freeman red memories of someone who fought in the 2nd battalion essex regiment. he landed in normandy 80 years ago and was present at the ceremony today and the words martin freeman red work, joe mines, clearing mines, one of ourfellows joe mines, clearing mines, one of our fellows tread on one and blew his leg off, his whole leg went, war is brutal. and indeed it is. king charles on the left been given some photos. i think they are photos of the photos in the younger years —— the photos in the younger years —— the soldiers in the younger years. they are probably talking to him about their memories and about what they were like, how different they were in those days. really, what is this about? it's notjust about thinking about those who fell in the war, but very much about celebrating the soldiers who remain stop i read somewhere that five years ago, when similar celebrations took place for d—day, there were 225 veterans who travelled to normandy for commemorations from the uk, and this year, there were only 23. understandable really given how many years have passed. but looking around, our correspondents have been describing to us what they are seeing and there is talk of the whole of the area, lots of schoolchildren, people around normandy really getting involved in the celebrations. i've been reading about british, us and canadian flags fluttering from garden gates, music from the 1940s drifting through village squares. they have really taken on board and to heart the normandy d—day commemorations. and of course, there are notjust british, french and us and canadians here, but people from all over europe who have come to commemorate that day. olaf scholz, chancellor of germany has also attended. we have seen people from the netherlands, from belgium, people the uk as well making thatjourney. we have changed source and we are bringing live pictures now of american veterans who are attending a separate service. i think that is in a different part of normandy and presidentjoe biden is due to make a speech later. we saw air force one landing earlier withjoe and jill landing earlier with joe and jill biden landing earlier withjoe and jill biden and then taking a helicopter to normandy. he is meeting us veterans in normandy, they were part of the us led allied forces and for many, what happened on d—day is one of the most important moments of the second world war. as we said earlier, mr biden is planning on meeting all of the key allies, president macron and uk prime minister and canadian prime minister, and you can see the veterans wrapped up in blankets despite the fact it is a relatively warm day. they will be feeling the cold, they are a little older and they are sat as well, and you always feel cold when you are sat still. they presented each of these actions earlier with coins made to commemorate the d—day anniversary. we saw pictures earlier otherjoe biden as he chatted and joked with the men, asking about their home towns and what they did during and after the war. he also taught them about their service, thanking them for it and called them in his words the greatest generation ever. they are expecting the president to deliver some sort of speech later on, it will be attended by members of congress from both parties and also the house majority leader and house democratic leader, and also the speaker nancy pelosi will be their too. a lot of representation, cross—party representation for the american veterans. so we can see here the twojoule american veterans. so we can see here the two joule commemorations happening simultaneously, the canadian on the right—hand side and the american on the left, there is prince william again talking to veterans. and this is what it is all about, veterans, those who have come here, some actually arriving in normandy for the first time since that day. some of them have not seen that day. some of them have not seen that beach since that day. can you imagine how poignant that will be for someone who has, his only memories of a place like those beaches, likejuno beach, gold beach, omaha beach, were of that terrible day? things are very different today, it's a very bright, sunny day, and on that day in 1944, the weather was not so good. we mentioned earlier as we watch prince william sort of actions that part of today's commemorations include re—enactments of the landings. tens of thousands of soldiers came across the water to normandy, they were joined by 11,000 planes, but there were also a huge flotilla of boats and ships and it was a really interesting re—enactment today done by members of the british armed forces and our correspondent hugh schofield was in amongst them. we can go back now and look at what he experienced. ask any of them, they all say it is absolutely crucial. it's part of their lore, l—o—r—e, their esprit de corps. they need to pass on the memory of what happened that day, which was the most momentous day in the unit's history, to the new generations of marines who are signing on. and that's what's happening. we have older men, younger men and women, and what they're doing is carrying on a tradition in which the older people got from their elders maybe 20 or 30 years ago. they're passing on the memory of this moment, which was a moment of such supreme sacrifice that it is the culminating and most important time in the history of these modern day units. so that's what they're doing. plus, of course, the wider task of educating the public to the importance of what happened on that day. and a lot has been said about the passing from memory to history — that's what's happening now. memory is disappearing, it's becoming history. and so the experience is different, and what has to be done is a task of learning and education, rather than simply evoking memories and emotions, which are obviously not the same as they were, say, 20, 30 years ago. that was hugh schofield there on one of those landing re—enactments. we are staying with this canadian— french flag, we saw earlierjustin trudeau and the french prime minister gabriel attal and prince william. let's have a listen. guard, advance. right turn! stand at ease. she speaks in french studio: lets bring the volume down on this member of the canadian armed forces so we can talk to you over this. we are seeing here part of the canadian ceremony. canadians played a big part in d—day. the naval air and land assault involved about 160,000 troops, they were not all from britain. there were so many from britain. there were so many from america, canada and obviously some from france as well involved that day. let's take you back to memories of that date. in terms of the us, you can see here the commemoration ceremony happening in normandy to those american foreign soldiers. they are playing a video now and waiting for president biden to come and talk and address the crowd. early on he met with these veterans who have come from america. you can see some sat there in wheelchairs covered in blue blankets. earlier on president biden presented each veteran with a commemoratives coin and also talked to them individually, asking them about their experiences in the war, they told him their stories. he also asked them about their lives since the war and about their homes, which they returned to after their involvement in the war ended. if we take you back to that day while we watch this, as i mentioned earlier, 160,000 troops were involved in that d—day landing. they landed on five beachesin d—day landing. they landed on five beaches in normandy in northern france and the landing was the start of the campaign to liberate nazi occupied north—west europe. so as we just very slowly follow what is happening here, you can see the veterans being moved back slightly, we are expecting to hear from joe biden shortly when he addresses the memorial event in normandy. they met world war ii veterans earlier, he andjill biden in world war ii veterans earlier, he and jill biden in the world war ii veterans earlier, he andjill biden in the normandy cemetery in collville—sur—mer. earlier on, we heard from a number of veterans and one such action can hey, he recited a stanza from a poem for the fallen and we had a small part of eliana. the poem is known as the exhortation and it reads this... they shall not grow old, they shall not grow old. age shall not weary them near the years condemn. at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. let's bring in someone who in the last few days has spent a lot of time with actions, john maguire, my colleague. good to talk with you. i cannot help but feel the poignancy of what is happening so strongly. i have shed a tear problem times today and i'm sure you have too. yes. have shed a tear problem times today and i'm sure you have too.— and i'm sure you have too. yes, i don't think— and i'm sure you have too. yes, i don't think we _ and i'm sure you have too. yes, i don't think we are _ and i'm sure you have too. yes, i don't think we are alone. - and i'm sure you have too. yes, i don't think we are alone. i'm i and i'm sure you have too. yes, i | don't think we are alone. i'm sure people watching back at home and the many invited here to the ceremony will have done that. it was a beautiful ceremony. we have spoken to some elections and they appreciated it as well. whenever they come to normandy, many we have spoken to over the last week or so will to normandy every year notjust for these big five year events. and for these big five year events. and for these big five year events. and for the last three years, this is the third time veterans had been able to come here to the british normandy memorial, their own memorial, and seek out the names of their comrades, those who did not make it home. 22,442 names on the pillars and walls on the memorial behind me. the ceremony was very poignant, as you say. perhaps the most touching element was to hear some of the first—hand testimonies, some of the first—hand testimonies, some read by actors, of actions that were here. there was very special moment when a young soldier started reading one of the bactrim's accounts of his fort on d—day 80 years ago and towards the end, talking about how a colleague of his had effectively saved his life on that day, towards the end of the story, his story, the that day, towards the end of the story. his story, the veteran stoi’y. his story, the veteran himself stood up in a separate position and finished the story, a surprise appearance, i suppose, position and finished the story, a surprise appearance, isuppose, and that was very much appreciated by the entire crowd. at the moment, the king and queen of infections. they are enjoying some hardy and refreshments after spending more than an hour sitting out in the weather here. it has been pretty fine here but they were very keen to get in to the marquee to have something to eat, a property and to have a sit down and chat to the king and queen. —— a cup of tea. mixed spirits, mixed emotions when they make these trips to normandy. some come back year after year, but they will always enjoy it. they get an incredible reception from locals, the french people, the population they liberated 80 years ago. they are still very warmly received, lots of applause, photographs, are still very warmly received, lots ofapplause, photographs, one veteran said to me he felt as if his hand had been shaken off over the last couple of days. but also that sense of remembrance. there is survivor's guilt with many of them. they talk about that openly unsafe some have mixed emotions about it and some dark memories and difficult memories, some saying they still have problems sleeping at night with some of those memories. they try to put them to one side and enjoy the moment of being here. they always bow their heads and think of those friends, conrad's, colleagues who —— comrades, colleagues who are not as lucky as them and did not make it back from northern france 80 years ago. back from northern france 80 years auo. back from northern france 80 years aao, , ., , back from northern france 80 years auo. , ., , ., ., ago. five years ago, the 75th anniversary _ ago. five years ago, the 75th j anniversary commemoration, ago. five years ago, the 75th i anniversary commemoration, 225 british veterans travelled to normandy but this year only 23. that is the reality — normandy but this year only 23. that is the reality of _ normandy but this year only 23. that is the reality of it. _ normandy but this year only 23. twat is the reality of it. one of the other things is we don't actually know how many veterans of normandy there are. partly because some have refused to talk about it at all. we only know about the ones that are part of different associations were brought here by the british legion, and the spirit of normandy trust and others will make their own way here as well. those are the ones that have decided they want to tell the story and take part in the commemoration of d—day. the king and queen will shortly go to the education centre opened here for the first time, the winston churchill centre. the veterans feel strongly about that. this place has two guiding principles. to remember and commemorate and the other is to educate. schoolchildren will come across from the uk, local schoolchildren here in france, they will be taught about what happened 8o will be taught about what happened 80 years ago and told about the sacrifices made. in many situations, we were with a couple of actions in a local school here and those children were 15 and 16 years old, only a couple of years younger than elections where when they served here 80 years ago. in fact, i was talking to a grandson of someone who had served in normandy on d—day and had served in normandy on d—day and had lied about their age, and they were only 14 years old. impossible to comprehend what that child will have seen. the point was made today by ken hay that they really were not men. they were basically, technically legally into adult hood but very much felt like children thrown into what can only be described as hell.— thrown into what can only be described as hell. ., , ., described as hell. one more question before i let you _ described as hell. one more question before i let you go _ described as hell. one more question before i let you go about _ described as hell. one more question before i let you go about the - described as hell. one more question before i let you go about the world i before i let you go about the world war ii wren christian lamb. i felt very emotional that moment, where the legion of honour was presented to her by president macron. i know you talked to her, what incredible woman. ,, , , ., ., you talked to her, what incredible woman. ,, , , ., . , woman. she is phenomenal, she will be 104 years — woman. she is phenomenal, she will be 104 years old _ woman. she is phenomenal, she will be 104 years old next _ woman. she is phenomenal, she will be 104 years old next month. - be 104 years old next month. absolutely, you cannot stop her. she is an incredible woman. so many stories to tell, great vivid memories. she was working in a basement in whitehall in a room on her own designing maps, from reconnaissance maps, aerial reconnaissance, to create landing maps for the amphibious landing craft landing on the beach. she had no idea whether she was creating real maps or perhaps dummy maps to try to be part of the subterfuge, the confusion, to throw the germans off the scent if you like. all people involved in normandy are entitled to the legion d'honnuer, france's highest honour. but today was a very special moment when president macron decided to present with that medal. she had not had one for whatever reason, she was incredibly excited, incredibly honoured and someone who has a lot of stories and you can spend very good quality special time with her now has next to special new story to tell from now on.— tell from now on. lucky you getting to meet such _ tell from now on. lucky you getting to meet such a _ tell from now on. lucky you getting to meet such a brilliant _ tell from now on. lucky you getting to meet such a brilliant amazing i to meet such a brilliant amazing person and to hear those stories. thank you to you for telling us to them —— telling them to us. we will say on these pictures now, these commemorations, these are from the canadian commemoration onjuno canadian commemoration on juno beach. just canadian commemoration onjuno beach. just to sum up what we have been seeing so far, events and we have been hearing had been taking place in france and the uk to mark the 80th anniversary of the allied invasion of france. we heard earlier the king, king charles, talking about the supreme test of d—day and the generation that, in his words, did not flinch when the moment came to face the test. we are looking back now atjune the 6th1944, when around 160,000 soldiers landed on those five beaches in normandy, northern france, many making the ultimate sacrifice for their country, for freedom and for the world. you are watching bbc news. the recognition she deserves. this is bbc news. world leaders and veterans gather in normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of d day it is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served at the most critical time. we are live in normandy as commemorations take place throughout the day. more than 30 are reported killed after the israeli military carries out a strike on a un school in gaza, saying it housed a hamas compound. around 80 people are reported rescued from the sea, after a migrant boat got into difficulty in the channel. premier league clubs are set to decide on whether to keep or scrap var from next season hello, if very warm welcome to the programme. 80 years ago today, tens of thousands of allied troops mounted the greatest seaborne invasion in military history one that would change the course of the second world war. this morning d day veterans and world leaders are taking part in major commemorations in northern france. atjust before 6.30 on the morning ofjune 6th, 1944, british, american, canadian and french soldiers began to land on sword, juno, gold, omaha and utah beaches — assaults that would lead to the eventual liberation of france from nazi occupatio. this morning the new british normandy memorial in ver sur mer above gold beach has been used for its first major commemorative event. the king laid a wreath for the fallen alongside france's president macron. along the coast, where canadian forces came ashore, the prince of wales joined prime minister, justin trudeau, to commemorate his nation's role in events on the morning of the 6th. and close to where american forces encountered the fiercest german resistance as they battled their way off omaha beach presidentjoe biden met has with veterans as he arrived for a ceremony at the us cemetery. alongside this solemn ceremony, it has been an opportunity to meet and speak with the veterans who played such an important part in one of the defining days of european history. here we are with live pictures coming into us once again. as you can see here, veterans from all over the world have been arriving in normandy and this is very much what this is about, it is about the veterans, not only commemorating those who fail, during that battle, but those who survived, who went on to keep fighting in the war, who went on to live their lives. these soldiers, veterans, and members of the armed forces in particular, are from the canadian armed forces. we saw earlier prince william, justin trudeau and the french minister together. let's take ourselves to the american side, near omaha beach, where president biden arrived earlier. he is there already, he talked to veterans and presented each and everyone with the commemorative coin. now we are going to expect him to stand on the stage and to address veterans and members of the armed forces here. we are also expecting this to be a very much cross—party event. members of both parties will be in attendance. and also, of course, the first lady who was with joe and also, of course, the first lady who was withjoe biden when he arrived earlier and was with him when he met the veterans. let's go back to juno beach, when he met the veterans. let's go back tojuno beach, it's a beautiful beach, looking very beautiful in the afternoon sun on this gorgeous day injune. 80 years ago, the weather was very different. the canadian prime minister and prince william earlier attended a very sombre and poignant ceremony. it was interesting because william said this. he said i thank the canadian veterans for their extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice, he went on to say, we continue to honour every canadian who gave so much, every canadian family who lost a loved one. and prince william ended the speech by saying in french, thank you for your freedom, and thank you for your service. addressing the ceremony, king charles expressed gratitude for the sacrifices of the wartime generation. over the past 40 years, i have had the great privilege of attending seven d—day commemorations in normandy. and meeting so many distinguished veterans. i shall never forget the haunting site and sound of thousands of figures proudly marching past into a french sunset on these beaches. our ability to learn from their stories at first hand diminishes but our obligation to remember them, what they stood for, and what they achieved for us all can never diminish. as veterans gathered, there was a recitation of for the fallen by laurence binyon they shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. age shall not weary them. nor the use and condemn. at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. lets go back to where the american soldiers are, you can hear the band playing music. you can see the podium where we are expecting president bryden any minute now to begin his ayo edebiri memorial address. they are waiting for the last of the veterans to be real then. president biden has come here together with his wife, there are representatives from both parties. he is due to address the event and this comes off the back of his meeting veterans and their own. —— mark earlier on. he is not there yet, we can leave the podium. we will keep the podium in our vision. i think we can cross live now and speak to our reporter. i am bringing you end because you are in arromanches. i want to tell the audience, it is not only the big commemorations happening in that area of normandy i read big five beaches, also smaller ones in places like arromanches which we are covering here on the bbc. tell me what has happened.— covering here on the bbc. tell me what has happened. yes, gold beach, as designated — what has happened. yes, gold beach, as designated by _ what has happened. yes, gold beach, as designated by the _ what has happened. yes, gold beach, as designated by the d-day _ what has happened. yes, gold beach, as designated by the d-day planners. as designated by the d—day planners was in the middle of the five landing grounds are assigned the invasion forces. arromanches has become a focal point, not only for commemorations and celebrations, but for people to pay their own modern tribute in a way that is not so formal as those up on the hill that we have just been hearing about. everyjune the 6th thousands of people from around europe and further afield converge here tojoin with the locals from normandy and many, many military vehicle enthusiasts who bring pristine and restored jeeps and ambulances of the period and amphibious vehicles. they all mixed together in an atmosphere thatis all mixed together in an atmosphere that is probably unique along the coast of normandy. the one thing that connects them all is a deep respect for the main of the allied armies, navies and air forces who we are hearing very different circumstances 80 years ago, and talking of which, these enduring traditions culminate in the morning at 7.25 each during the six, the exact time the troops arrived here on gold beach, a lone piper appears on gold beach, a lone piper appears on the sand and police aliment. everyone fell silent and it seems as though he can be heard for miles around. —— he please eliminate. it commemorates when they were piped ashore on sword beach on d—day, that story is passed down the years and those traditions are very important for many veterans of many ages who are also here today. no let me ask you this, obviously, this is very much about the veterans and commemorating them, but it is also centring on events that happened before, everyone has their own story, don't they? this before, everyone has their own story, don't they?— before, everyone has their own story, don't they? this is where, no matter how — story, don't they? this is where, no matter how active _ story, don't they? this is where, no matter how active and _ story, don't they? this is where, no matter how active and busy - story, don't they? this is where, no matter how active and busy people | matter how active and busy people are, it is also a sobering occasion because the number of world war ii and normandy veteran is who are able to make the trip over is getting fewer and fewer every year. it is estimated that there are, for example, around 100 surviving men who served on dvd among the british forces, and also, perhaps 20, 25 have made the trip this time. —— on d—day. i was talking to one of those yesterday, he what he is 98 years old, very eloquent and very sprightly, and he has come back many times but he says this time will be the last, maybe, but he can't be sure, he insists on coming back as often as he can, it is his tribute to his comrades who were never able to his comrades who were never able to seven come home. it is good to talk to you, thank you very much indeed. he is in arromanches which is the focal point of a smaller ceremony that he was mentioning there. let's say here and look at what is happening. this is the american commemoration which is carrying on. we are waiting forjoe biden to start addressing the ceremony in normandy. he isjoined by the defence secretary as well who is there. let's see if we can have a listen and see what is happening. let's get the audio up. f.ltlur let's get the audio up. our religion. — let's get the audio up. our religion. to _ let's get the audio up. our religion, to set _ let's get the audio up. our religion, to set free - let's get the audio up. our religion, to set free humanity, give strength— religion, to set free humanity, give strength to — religion, to set free humanity, give strength to their— religion, to set free humanity, give strength to their arms, _ religion, to set free humanity, give strength to their arms, stoutness l religion, to set free humanity, givel strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts. — strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness - strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in- strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their. their hearts, steadfastness in their face _ their hearts, steadfastness in their face tin— their hearts, steadfastness in their face. , . ' ' their hearts, steadfastness in their face. , " , face. jin the six, 1944, d-day. france has _ face. jin the six, 1944, d-day. france has been _ face. jin the six, 1944, d-day. france has been occupied i face. jin the six, 1944, d-day. france has been occupied by l face. jin the six, 1944, d-day. i france has been occupied by nazi germany for almost four years. some countries have suffered under their sinister yacht even longer. the audience are being treated to a video giving the background, the history to what is happening. the us audience, armed forces, members of political parties, representatives from other countries, they are waiting forjoe biden to arrive and give a speech. you can follow that speech on bbc news, or go to the website if you are away from the television. to sum up what we have been hearing so far, this is a hugely poignant at times sad, at timesjoyful hugely poignant at times sad, at times joyful commemoration of those events. on those five beaches of normandy 80 years ago on the morning ofjune the 6th, 1944, and these events will carry on throughout the day and well of course, as always, we will be covering them for you here on bbc news. we have to wait now for president biden. we are, as always, so patient on these new channels waiting for live events to happen. they are commemorations for canadian veterans —— veterans and soldiers, for british ones, this one is the american one. it is really interesting looking earlier on at the stories behind some of these veterans. i do not know if you are with me earlier, i spoke to my colleague about one such lettering. christian lamb was a world war ii rain, she was a young woman royal naval service officer, her story is amazing, she tried to make sure british troops were in the exact right place when it scrambled onto the normandy beaches under enemy fire. she was presented with the legion of honour, you can see her on the left—hand side of the screen, and she was met by christian lamb. before d—day began, planning for operation overlord, as it was known, took many months, if not years. working alone in a basement room in whitehall, christian lamb created maps for the landing craft that were central to the amphibious attack. last month, we travelled here to normandy with christian, who saw the beaches she'd charted 80 years ago for the very first time. it looks absolutely wonderful, so clear and so blue and it's so attractive. i don't suppose it looked like that then, really. one was very worried about it and expecting ghastly things to happen. these are what i am supposed to have made. these are the maps you made. amazing. we also showed her an original invasion map. again, something she'd never seen before. this will have saved lives. i hope so. there will have been so many lives lost. but perhaps one or two saved. i'm sure more than that. and you think of how young they all were too. and also brave, so desperately keen to win. her role would have been vital, so today she'll be presented

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