Has been unveiled. What are your thoughts . I think it is absolutely wonderful and Ver Sur Mer is a wonderful location, on the eastern half of Gold Beach and then you have gino and saud. Every single name carved is wonderful. Juno and then sword. This is the first time it is a single memorialfor sword. This is the first time it is a single memorial for everyone sword. This is the first time it is a single Memorialfor Everyone but there are Commonwealth War graves throughout normandy and they are very beautiful and they have been maintained absolutely meticulously ever since The End of the war. It is ever since The End of the war. It is obviously important to remember there has not not been a memorial but they have been scattered. There are 18 british cemeteries. I spoke earlier to one person who does to others around at normandy saying obviously for the veterans when they have gone back to it as been very, very personalfor them to have gone back to it as been very, very personal for them to go to the cemetery where they would find the names of their friends, those who fell alongside them, their Loved Ones and obviously sometimes siblings died together in the D Day landings but going forward that will change and the Central Focus will become important. How do you see how we will remember changing . fin become important. How do you see how we will remember changing . We will remember changing . On the 75th-anniversary'>75th Anniversary we will remember changing . On the 75th-anniversary'>75th Anniversary i we will remember changing . On the 75th-anniversary'>75th Anniversary i remember we will remember changing . On the 75th-anniversary'>75th Anniversary i remember talking| 75th-anniversary'>75th Anniversary i remember talking to an older person who was in a wheelchair at the cemetery and he said im 99, Iwill Wheelchair at the cemetery and he said im 99, i will be A Hundred at The End of this year and then there was this rather poignant paws and he said i havejust seen was this rather poignant paws and he said i have just seen the grave of a chap who died is 20. And we both kind of realised at the same moment he had 80 years extra to live from his friend and he recounted the circumstances in which this poor fellow had died. He lost the plot and jumped out of the trench they ran and Ran Towards the germans and they cut him down. It was an incredibly moving moment. Youre not going to have that put on the other hand i do think it is a good thing to have a kind of Focal Point and the british contribution on D Day was absolutely enormous. It is tempting to think because of the opening scenes of saving private Ryanit Opening scenes of saving private ryan it was an american show but it was an absolute allied effort. Two thirds of the Air Forces are british and three quarters of the War And Landing craft were british and two thirds of the men who landed were british and canadian. D day if anything has pushed towards the british component rather than american and americans take over in august with the push on the ground. Very much a joint allied effort but with the british taking the lead in this particular instance so i think its important, you try not to skew our memories of things. The americans have their one big cemetery at coalville and that is the focus point. That is where the memorial blocks are and everyone goes to visit and i can see Ver Sur Mer taking on that mantle as Well. Versurmer taking on that mantle as Well. I i i versurmer taking on that mantle as Well. ,. , versurmer taking on that mantle as Well. I i i ,. , versurmer taking on that mantle as Well. ,. ,. , Well. 22,000 people lost their lives on the 0day Well. 22,000 people lost their lives on the dday landings Well. 22,000 people lost their lives on the dday landings and Well. 22,000 people lost their lives on the dday landings and the on the D Day landings and the subsequent days. Talk us through, if you are talking to somebody who does not know anything about what happened there and there will be kids not up to speed with this bit of history. Bring it home. The scale of history. Bring it home. The scale of it is absolutely of history. Bring it home. The scale of it is absolutely enormous of history. Bring it home. The scale of it is absolutely enormous and. Of it is absolutely enormous and what the allies did very successfully as use technological Know How and vast industrialisation and global Reach And Access to resources and use mechanisation to limit the number of people at the Coal Face of war. However, that was great and very sensible but if you were unfortunate enough to be in the infantry are in a Tank Or Artillery and some forward engineers and so on your chances of getting through unscathed in the Normandy Campaign were pretty much zero. Though the numbers were less than in the first World War the casualty rates were actually worse. The average daily Budgeting Rate in the 77 day and normandy 77 campaign days in normandy 77 campaign days in normandy per day across all competence was higher than it was at the battle of the somme, passchendaele and verdun. They are normally seen as benchmarks of the first World War. I normally seen as benchmarks of the first World War. First World War. I want to bring in Harry Billinge first World War. I want to bring in Harry Billinge who first World War. I want to bring in Harry Billinge who was first World War. I want to bring in Harry Billinge who was amongst l first World War. I want to bring in l Harry Billinge who was amongst the many fundraisers who raised the £30 million between them for the new memorial unveiled today. We first met him two years ago and he has gone on to raise Tens Of Thousands of pounds. Ive never seen anything like it in my life. You have the ships firing over your head and you had the germans firing on you from inland. My generation saved the world. Im very sorry, a bit choked. You are absolutely entitled to, we are grateful to you. Thank you. Dont thank me, and dont say im a hero. Im no hero, iwas lucky, im here. All the heroes are dead and ill never forget � em as long as i live. Theres about 35 quid there, harry. When i collect money for that memorial, i get a great calmness over me. I lost a lot of good men. Young men boys of 16. This is it. This is what youve been raising money towards and youve never seen this before. No, never. How does it make you feel . Because the work youre doing, its now concrete, its tangible, its there, you can touch it. Marvellous. We just had a job to do. All these fellas did a good job. All these men, these wonderful men. Mr Harry Billinge, for services to charitable fundraising. I never expected any medal for collecting a few pounds or £1,000, i went to do it for the fellas that never came back. This medal is for the memory of every one of them fellas. 22,4112 men killed in a day and its never left me, never left me. I came home, so many poor devils never came home. I loved them all. Everybody who was a normandy veteran loved one another, and thats a marvellous Thing Love is stronger than death. Harry billinge. Lets take a look at the pictures of that memorial because it is absolutely stunning. It is beautiful in its scale and it is located on the site overlooking Gold Beach and features the D Day by the british sculptor david Williams Ellis and the wall we can see their future the names of those who fell on D Day itself and on 160 stone columns that the names of those who felt between D Day and the Liberation Of Paris in 19114. It also has a French memorial dedicated to the memories of French civilians who died this time. Nearly Four Thousand tonnes of stone have been used in the construction of this monument which is only being unveiled properly today because of the pandemic. Not many people had had sight of what was being created there and as we look at these pictures we can see what a magnificent achievement it is. Lets go back to the historianjames holland. How important was D Day . D day was absolutely vital. Mas holland. How important was dday . Dday was absolutely vital. Was Nazi Germany going dday was absolutely vital. Was Nazi Germany going to dday was absolutely vital. Was Nazi Germany going to be dday was absolutely vital. Was Nazi Germany going to be defeated . Dday was absolutely vital. Was Nazi Germany going to be defeated . I germany going to be defeated . I think the significance is what Post War Europe would look like and it was absently vital. I think germany had lost the war as early as November 1941 and there is a good case for when it lost the Battle Of Britain by The End of summer 1940 it did not have the access to industrial forces to fight along attritional war and by The End of 1941 was fighting against the soviet union, united states and Great Britain Plus Dominions And Empire and i think that was too much. But i think we would probably have had communist europe had it not been for D Day and people talk about liberation and it was a liberation from oppression and a triumph of democracy and democratic armies, most of whom, 75 of the man at least work on scripts so these are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. In the scale of D Day and the campaign that followed and all the campaign that followed and all the way through to The End of the war in April 1945 may 1945, if you talk about D Day your talking about 6939 vessels of which 1213 are warships and over A Thousand odd landing craft. Imagine what 1200 landing craft. Imagine What1200 Warships looks like, the sea is black with them. 150,000 men delivered to the bridgehead. The scale is breathtaking and international, multinationalforces, Air And Land international, multinationalforces, Airand Land and international, multinationalforces, Air And Land and sea in a pre digital age. Air and Land And Sea in a pre digitalage. It Air And Land and sea in a pre digital age. It is astonishing and that is before you start thinking about the personal sacrifices of those involved. You will have spoken sacrifices of those involved. You will have spoken to sacrifices of those involved. You will have spoken to many veterans in the course of your work. What have they said to you about why they did it and how they have felt in the years since . It it and how they have felt in the years since . It and how they have felt in the ears since . ,. ,. , ~ years since . It is tempting to talk of ureat years since . It is tempting to talk of great crusades years since . It is tempting to talk of great crusades and years since . It is tempting to talk of great crusades and all years since . It is tempting to talk of great crusades and all the years since . It is tempting to talk of great crusades and all the rest| of great crusades and all the Rest And Triumph over evil and good over evil but most of them did it because they had to. They didnt critically want to be there at all, they want to be at home getting on with their lives. They were there because they had to and because of their mates and the intense sense of camaraderie are not wanting to let anyone down. We will pick up that sort but we want to hear from we will pick up that sort but we want to hearfrom prince we will pick up that sort but we want to hear from prince charles. We will pick up that sort but we want to hearfrom prince charles. It want to hear from prince charles. It gives me the greatest possible pride to be able gives me the greatest possible pride to be able to open officially at this remarkable memorial on the 77th Anniversary this remarkable memorial on the 77th Anniversary of D Day. As you can perhaps anniversary of D Day. As you can perhaps imagine i had so hoped to be in Ver Sur Merwith perhaps imagine i had so hoped to be in Ver Sur Mer with you all today. However in Ver Sur Mer with you all today. However while we are forced to meet virtually however while we are forced to meet virtually l however while we are forced to meet virtually i was much encouraged to hear that virtually i was much encouraged to hear that some of you have been able to gather hear that some of you have been able to gather to hear that some of you have been able to gather to witness the proceedings at the to gather to witness the proceedings at the national Memorial Arboretum Today at the national Memorial Arboretum Today if at the national Memorial Arboretum Today if i at the national Memorial Arboretum Today. If i may, i dearly wanted to address today. If i may, i dearly wanted to address my today. If i may, i dearly wanted to address my first remarks directly to those address my first remarks directly to those whose presence today, either in person those whose presence today, either in person or those whose presence today, either in person or online, really matters the most in person or online, really matters the most i in person or online, really matters the most. I knowjust how much are incomparable veterans had hoped to be in normandy today to see their memorial be in normandy today to see their memorial for themselves. Be in normandy today to see their memorialforthemselves. Despite memorial for themselves. Despite having memorial for themselves. Despite having to memorialforthemselves. Despite having to watch via satellite link, this in having to watch via satellite link, this in no having to watch via satellite link, this in no way obscures the enormous regard this in no way obscures the enormous regard and this in no way obscures the enormous Regard And Admiration in which we hold our Regard And Admiration in which we hold our veterans are diminishes our debt of hold our veterans are diminishes our debt of gratitude to the more than 22,000 debt of gratitude to the more than 22,000 Men And Women whose names are now permanently inscribed in stone in this now permanently inscribed in stone in this place of honour above Gold Beach in this place of honour above Gold Beach. When i first became aware of the plans beach. When i first became aware of the plans for this long overdue british the plans for this long overdue british memorial, it has for many years british memorial, it has for many years been british memorial, it has for many years been concerns me the memory of these years been concerns me the memory of these remarkable individuals should be preserved for future generations as an be preserved for future generations as an example of personal Courage And Sacrifice for the benefit of the wider and sacrifice for the benefit of the wider national and indeed international community. He speaks French. It has been a great source of satisfaction for me to see how the Plans Satisfaction for me to see how the plans for satisfaction for me to see how the plans for the Memorial Have developed over the years, indeed i had the developed over the years, indeed i had the pleasure of discussing those plans with had the pleasure of discussing those plans with President Macron when he visited plans with President Macron when he visited london last summer and i know visited london last summer and i Know How visited london last summer and i Know How much this british memorial and the Know How much this british memorial and the French memorial which stands alongside and the French memorial which stands alongside it and the French memorial which stands alongside it mean to him and the French alongside it mean to him and the French nation. The british and French French nation. The british and French flags will fly alongside each other French flags will fly alongside each other above the memorial, a reminder of the other above the memorial, a reminder of The Enduring and important ties between of The Enduring and important ties between our two countries. I would very much between our two countries. I would very much like to take the opportunity to thank all those at the Normandy Memorial Trust who have worked the Normandy Memorial Trust who have worked so the Normandy Memorial Trust who have worked so hard to turn this memorial into a worked so hard to turn this memorial into a reality worked so hard to turn this memorial into a reality and all those who have into a reality and all those who have either taken part in the Memorial Have either taken part in the memorial is construction or who have contributed memorial is construction or who have contributed alongside the british government to find this most significant of the landmarks. Furthermore, whilst i very much look forward furthermore, whilst i very much look forward to furthermore, whilst i very much look forward to the day we can all visit this wonderful memorial in person, i would this wonderful memorial in person, i would also this wonderful memorial in person, i would also like to thank the royal british would also like to thank the Royal British Legion in this their centenary year for their kindness in making centenary year for their kindness in making available the facilities at the national Memorial Arboretum so that our the national Memorial Arboretum so that our veterans may gather and be part of that our veterans may gather and be part of this that our veterans may gather and be part of this virtual opening on the 77th Anniversary of D Day. I can only 77th Anniversary of D Day. I can only hope 77th Anniversary of D Day. I can only hope this serves to commemorate all those only hope this serves to commemorate all those whose lives were lost during all those whose lives were lost during the events ofjune 1944 and between during the events ofjune 1944 and between D Day and the Liberation Of Paris at between D Day and the Liberation Of Paris at The End of August 1944. May God Trless Paris at The End of August 1944. May god bless our veterans, the families and all god bless our veterans, the families and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice as and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice as a result of the operations around D Day and during the battle operations around D Day and during the battle of normandy. Ladies and gentlemen, as the wonders of modern technology gentlemen, as the wonders of modern technology could only do so much, and i technology could only do so much, and i Cant Technology could only do so much, and i cant quite reach from london, May I and i cant quite reach from london, May I ask and i cant quite reach from london, May I ask the and i cant quite reach from london, May I ask the british ambassador to france, May I ask the british ambassador to france, lord May I ask the british ambassador to france, lord lleWellyn, to open for me the france, lord lleWellyn, to open for me the british Normandy Memorial On My Behalf . He speaks French. Veteransjoining us from the national arboretum are watching online, welcome to the british normandy memorial. Welcome, veterans, to your memorial. The memorialfor which you veterans, to your memorial. The memorial for which you have campaigned so hard and so long. It stands here proudly in the normandy sun overlooking Gold Beach, facing home. The names of the 22,000 442 of more than 30 nations who gave their lives under british command from D Day until The End of August 1944 are etched into its honeyed stone forever. I dearly wish you could be here to see it in person today. I can assure you standing here that it is truly a Memorial Fit for heroes. Below us, the waves lapping gently. In the distance we can see the remains of the mulberry harbour. Just over the coast are warships of the Royal Navy is playing silent tribute. More tranquil, beautiful scene it would be hard to imagine. Peace, thanks to you, and thanks to all of those whose names surround this year. How utterly different from 77 summers ago when the fate of the entire world depended on what you accomplished in this seashore. There are the acts of heroism that have entered the annals of D Day, the capture of Pegasus Bridge and company major Sergeant Wallace earning his Victoria Cross not far from here and the courage of the French resistance. And then the countless acts of Quiet Heroism captured in the faces of the young soldiers crouched on their Assault Craft battling seasickness in the heavy sWell waiting for the moment the front ramp came down. On the warships of the Royal Navy at sea, in the air with the bombers and fighters of the royal Air Force and our allies, these are the men who enabled liberty to regain her foothold on the European Continent on the 6th ofjune1944. And who in the days and weeks that followed lifted the shackles of tyranny, hedge by normandy head shall, mile by bloody mile. I Know How reluctant veterans are to be described as heroes. The real heroes who always say those who never came home, your mates. Their names are here no, thanks to you, together in this place of honour. Behind every one of them is an individual story, a father, a son, brother, a daughter, an Uncle Or Grandfather or even a Great Grandfather and a family whose lives were changed forever. Men like this lieutenant of the royal Navy Volunteer Reserve who landed in the us sector and was killed on D Day plus five. His daughter anthea who was nine of the time still remembers the Dreadful Telegram sitting on the mantelpiece. Women, Army Nurses who lost their lives after the Hospital Ship was hit. But this memorial is about the future as much as the past. About ensuring that future generations understand the true worth of our freedom, that we never take it for granted, that we never forget. So let me extend my thanks to all those who make this memorial possible. We charge batts who has campaigned so tirelessly. George batts full stop to so many other veterans and the Normandy Memorial Trust. He veterans and the Normandy Memorial Trust. , ~ , i look forward to returning to this memorial, not as the british ambassador but as the father of three young franco british children. I will tell them the story of D Day and i will teach them the message of D Day and we will always remember and always be proud how you did your job is you always so modestly put it and now we must do ours. We must defend the beachhead you won at such cost with humility and with great pride i declare the british normandy memorial open. Applause. They will know cut a ribbon, a symbolic they will know cut a ribbon, a symbolic moment of the Memorial Opening symbolic moment of the Memorial Opening. Above them, inscribed in stone, opening. Above them, inscribed in stone, the opening. Above them, inscribed in stone, the words of general Bernard Montgomery to the D Day forces on the 5th montgomery to the D Day forces on the 5th of montgomery to the D Day forces on the 5th Ofjune. To us is given the honour the 5th Ofjune. To us is given the honour of the 5th Ofjune. To us is given the honour of striking a blow for Freedom Honour of striking a blow for freedom that will live in history and in freedom that will live in history and in the freedom that will live in history and in the better days that lie ahead and in the better days that lie ahead men will speak with pride of our doings ahead men will speak with pride of our doings. We speak with pride no and rememberwith our doings. We speak with pride no and remember with gratitude as we move and remember with gratitude as we move towards the silence at 11 Oclock Move towards the silence at 11 oclock. We remember all those who lost their oclock. We remember all those who lost their lives on this day 77 years lost their lives on this day 77 years ago lost their lives on this day 77 years ago and on the days that followed years ago and on the days that followed. And let us remember those events followed. And let us remember those events through the words of some of those events through the words of some of those who events through the words of some of those who witness them, beginning on the evening those who witness them, beginning on the evening of the 5th Ofjune as the evening of the 5th Ofjune as the invasion forces departed from the invasion forces departed from the site the invasion forces departed from the site. Britain bound for normandy. The site. Britain bound for normandy the site. Britain bound for normandy. The site. Britain bound for normand. , ,. ,. , normandy. The sky over us began to fill with the normandy. The sky over us began to fill with the sound normandy. The sky over us began to fill with the sound of normandy. The sky over us began to fill with the sound of Aircraft Fill with the sound of aircraft which sWelled until it overflowed the darkness. The noise became solid, beating the ground with the relentless surge of the ocean sWell. We were transfixed and wordless, gripped by the power, Majesty And Menace of what we were meant witnessing. Menace of what we were meant witnessing menace of what we were meant witnessinu. ,. ,. ,. , witnessing. The coast of normandy be. An to witnessing. The coast of normandy began to take witnessing. The coast of normandy began to take shape witnessing. The coast of normandy began to take shape through witnessing. The coast of normandy began to take shape through the i began to take shape through the haze began to take shape through the haze it began to take shape through the haze. It was a sight so paralysing it brought haze. It was a sight so paralysing it brought tears to my eyes. It was as if every it brought tears to my eyes. It was as if every ship and every plane that had as if every ship and every plane that had ever been built was there. There that had ever been built was there. There had that had ever been built was there. There had never been since time began there had never been since time began such a rendezvous. Troops, man our boats began such a rendezvous. Troops, man your boats came began such a rendezvous. Troops, man your boats came over began such a rendezvous. Troops, man your boats came over the began such a rendezvous. Troops, man your boats came over the land your boats came over the land header. Loud might loud hailer. Private hindmarsh was behind me. And sapper mullen. He died of his wounds later that Day And Lieutenant kennedy looking grim but enjoying his run. Just as Well as he was never seen again. Leaving the boat. So she speaks French. She speaks French. We had them come, the Crushing Blinding we had them come, the Crushing Blinding of we had them come, the Crushing Blinding of the gliders, the sound of the blinding of the gliders, the sound of the gunshots crossed the bridge. Then there of the gunshots crossed the bridge. Then there faces appeared, Smeared In Black then there faces appeared, Smeared In Black camouflage cream, terrified, in black camouflage cream, terrified, frightened. The british had arrived. It was joy, terrified, frightened. The british had arrived. It wasjoy, we were free had arrived. It wasjoy, we were free i had arrived. It was oy, we were free. ,. ,. ,. , free. I remember the beach so clearl. Free. I remember the beach so clearly i free. I remember the beach so clearly. I wasnt free. I remember the beach so clearly. I wasnt scared, free. I remember the beach so clearly. Iwasnt scared, i free. I remember the beach so clearly. I wasnt scared, ijustl free. I remember the beach so i clearly. I wasnt scared, ijust saw it as a challenge to do all the good i could, to get alongside the wounded in the dying. It meant a great deal to them just to have a hand to hold. Most of them had faith but some of them were very worried about what would become of their families. It about what would become of their families. , about what would become of their families. ,. ,. ,. , about what would become of their families. ,. ,. ,. , families. It all came down to a bunch of men families. It all came down to a bunch of men and families. It all came down to a bunch of men and their families. It all came down to a bunch of men and their teensl families. It all came down to a I Bunch of men and their teens or families. It all came down to a bunch of men and their teens or 20s. They were bunch of men and their teens or 20s. They were magnificently trained and equipped they were magnificently trained and equipped but only a few of them had ever been equipped but only a few of them had ever been in combat. But when the test came, ever been in combat. But when the test came, when freedom had to be fought test came, when freedom had to be fought for test came, when freedom had to be fought for our abandoned, the thought fought for our abandoned, the thought. They were soldiers of democracy mike they thought. They were soldiers of D Day and to the more were soldiers of D Day and to the more we were soldiers of D Day and to the more we or were soldiers of D Day and to the more we or our freedom. We all are freedom more we or our freedom. We all are freedom to all of them. They shau are freedom to all of them. They shall not grow are freedom to all of them. They shall not grow old are freedom to all of them. They shall not grow old as are freedom to all of them. They shall not grow old as we are freedom to all of them. He shall not grow old as we that are freedom to all of them. Iiez1 shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not reader them nor the days and damn. At the going down of the morning we will remember them. Going down of the morning we will rememberthem. Going down of the morning we will remember them. At the going down of The Sun and in the morning we will remember them. He of The Sun and in the morning we will remember them. Of The Sun and in the morning we will remember them. He plays the last post