Ken Hay, Alec Penstone, Donald Howkins, Richard Aldred, John Dennett, Henry Rice, Gilbert Clarke and Mervyn Kersh.
8 of the extraordinary Normandy Veterans taking part in commemorations and events in the UK and France tomorrow, marking
#DDay80
.
📷Crown Copyright
A act of bravery, encapsulated by Standing with Giants.
Nurses Anyta Field & Mollie Evershed were serving on Hospital Carrier Amsterdam when it hit a mine. They forced their way below decks, carrying 75 men to safety. They went down with the ship.
We Will Remember Them
#DDay80
On
#DDay80
, we remember two of the men who gave so much to the making of the British Normandy Memorial.
Our friends, the great, late D-Day Veterans Harry Billinge MBE and George Batts MBE. ❤️
"The pipes were motivating them, snapping them out of their fear."
This is Piper Bill Millin's extraordinary story of bravery, told by his son, John.
#DDay80
We're saddened to learn that D-Day Veteran David 'Woody' Woodrow passed away on Friday 14 June, aged 100. David served with
@RoyalAirForce
652 Air Observation Post Squadron, and landed on D-Day with the advance party.
We send our deepest condolences to his family & friends. ❤️
"It's beyond belief & beyond my dreams. It's a thing that we Brits can be proud of."
Late D-Day Veteran George Batts' legacy will live on forevermore thanks to his unwavering dedication to turning his dream into reality.
We'll never forget him or his fallen mates.
#DDay80
"Do not call me hero." D-Day Veteran Harry Billinge MBE has raised tens of thousands in memory of his fallen comrades. Today the Memorial that means so much to him finally opens.
Here, Harry reads his favourite poem standing on Gold Beach where he landed 77 years ago.
#DDay77
"I left a lad, returned a man. They stole my youth that day."
In 2018, Harry read his favourite poem 'Longest Day' on Gold Beach, where he landed on 6 June 1944.
RIP Harry Billinge.💔
Frank Baugh was a Royal Navy signalman and had a narrow escape on D-Day. This is his story, recorded on a trip to Normandy in June 2018.
Frank passed away in June 2022. We are thinking of him on this milestone anniversary.
#DDay80
Happy 100th Birthday to D-Day Veteran and British Normandy Memorial Ambassador Joe Cattini.
Joe is delighted to be one of the first centenarians to receive a birthday card from Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort.
Pictured are Private Robert Johns and Private Jack Banks.
Two 16-year-old boys who enlisted underage and made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of Normandy.
So brave. So young.
Credit - Meghan Swarbrick and Jack Banks' family, and Jenny Ward, Robert's niece
#DDay80
The nation pays tribute to our extraordinary Normandy Veterans.
This is our Memorial Ambassador, Mervyn Kersh. Let's never forget what he and his comrades did for us.
#DDay80
Credit:
@DefenceHQ
Crown Copyright
Happy 99th Birthday to D-Day Veteran Ralph McClure! 🎉🎂
Ralph visited the Memorial with granddaughter
@Vicky_McClure
in 2022. Here they share their first impressions:
"The pipes were motivating them, snapping them out of their fear." Ahead of the 76th anniversary of
#DDay
, we share Piper Bill Millin's extraordinary story of bravery, told by his son, John.
#DDay76
#Normandy
#LestWeForget
96-year-old Douglas Farrington served with The Royal Welch Fusiliers & arrived in Normandy on 26 June 1944. 78 years later he visited the Memorial to lay a wreath & pay tribute to his comrades.
Thank you for your service, Douglas.
[Image courtesy of Christianna Franck]
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our Normandy Veteran Patron, George Batts, at the age of 97.
George showed unwavering dedication to remembrance and his legacy will live on forevermore.
Thank you, dearest George. We will miss you. ❤️
"I just cannot believe what I'm seeing."
On Armed Forces Day, we share a moment from D-Day Veteran Ralph McClure & granddaughter
@Vicky_McClure
's visit to the Memorial.
Thinking of all members of Armed Forces past & present & the 22,442 who fell in summer 1944. Never forgotten.❤️
"I left a lad, returned a man. They stole my youth that day."
Two years ago, Harry Billinge MBE stood on Gold Beach & read his favourite poem 'Longest Day'. The Trust shares this moment for
#DDay76
.
The Trust recorded this very special reading of the late, great Harry Billinge reading ‘The Longest Day’, on a trip to Normandy in 2018, when he visited the site of the Memorial for the first time.
#DDay80
An extraordinary bunch.
For the 80th anniversary, we welcome to the Memorial Mervyn Kersh and Henry Rice, and keep in our hearts the Veterans who are sadly no longer with us. ❤️
📷
@ArthurJEdwards
, October 2021
#DDay80
"May God bless our Veterans, their families, and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice as a result of the operations around D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy.”
Patron of the Normandy Memorial Trust, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales' message to Normandy Veterans.
Veteran Harry Billinge has asked that we share his thanks with everyone who has supported him over the last few days. He is “overwhelmed by all the love”. He’s taking a well-earned rest but will be back fundraising soon.
#ArmisticeDay
#RemembranceDay
With less than a week to go to
#DDay80
, our 1,475 giants stand, heads bowed, among the growing wild meadows around the Memorial. Hand-knitted poppies alongside the fallen.
#StandingWithGiants
Credit -
@authorAPT
93 year old Harry Billinge was just 18 when he landed on Gold Beach on D-Day. Harry has raised thousands of pounds for the
#NormandyMemorial
Last weekend our Royal Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales visited Harry to thank him. Here's Harry's
#DDAY75
story
#sacrificeforfreedom
🗣️ “A bit emotional to tell the truth because this is probably the last big event where we’ll have a significant number of veterans coming.”
Forces News spoke to Henry Montgomery, Field Marshal Montgomery’s grandson, about D-Day’s 80th anniversary
#DDay80
📺 Watch here 👇
The sheer scale of loss, represented by the silhouettes solemnly standing around the Memorial's wild meadows, with Gold Beach alongside them.
The Standing with Giants Installation at the British Normandy Memorial has captured the hearts of the nation. ❤️
📷 James Light
#DDay80
On the eve of the 77th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, an historic moment: the completed British Normandy Memorial is finally revealed. The 50-acre site is showcased through a series of spectacular ground and aerial shots.
#DDay77
#BritishMemorial
Remembering our friend, D-Day Veteran Joe Cattini - he was a dedicated supporter of the Memorial project from the very early days.
We are thinking of him and everything he gave us.
#DDay80
With a week to go to
#DDay80
, we remember two of the late, great D-Day Veterans whose legacies live on through their extraordinary dedication to the Memorial project: our friends, George Batts MBE and Harry Billinge MBE. ❤️❤️
Tomorrow, Thursday 6 June, we will host the official national
#DDay80
commemoration in the presence of Their Majesties The King and The Queen, Veterans of the Normandy Campaign and international VIPs.
@RoyalFamily
@PoppyLegion
@DefenceHQ
📷'D-Day Sculpture' by
@davidwilliamsel
With under a month to go to
#DDay80
, a look back to 10 years ago when Norfolk Veterans posed at Luc-sur-Mer. What a moment.
L-R - Ernie Chambers, Peter Hemp, Norman Taylor, John Utting, David Woodrow.
Sadly, only Ernie and David are still with us.
Credit: Andrew Wright
#VEDay79
We are so proud and delighted to announce D-Day Veteran Harry Billinge is made an MBE for services to charity in the
#NewYearsHonours
. This is Harry on Gold Beach where he landed 75 years ago, reading the moving poem, 'Longest Day'.
#NormandyMemorial
Exactly 75 years ago this weekend, Exercise Tiger took place off the coast of Devon at Slapton Sands. It was one of the biggest calamities of the entire war, but one which may have helped to save British and Allied lives on D-Day.
#sacrificeforfreedom
#NormandyMemorial
#DDay75
An honour to host the official national commemoration this morning and to welcome Their Majesties The King and The Queen to the Memorial for the first time, alongside 40 Normandy Veterans.
@RoyalFamily
#DDay80
"I did it for the boys."
D-Day Veteran Harry Billinge, who has now raised more than £30,000 for the Normandy Memorial Trust, is made an MBE in the
#NewYearHonours
. We are so proud of him and his remarkable commitment to honour his fallen comrades. Congratulations, Harry!
“My generation saved the world”.
D-Day Veteran and Fundraiser Harry Billinge MBE, Leg d’Hon. sadly passed away today aged 96.
The Trust sends its deepest condolences to Harry’s wife Sheila, and to all his family and friends. Harry raised more than £50,000 for the Memorial.
Today’s
#DDay75
story is about Piper Bill Millin. Bill played his pipes as he landed in Normandy with 1st Special Service Brigade on D-Day. His story is told by his son, John Millin.
#normandymemorial
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.
We will remember them.
Heads bowed in reverence, a staggering 1,475 giants now stand among the fields of the British Normandy Memorial.
#DDay80
Credit -
@GarethJFuller
/
@PA
"We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds...We shall never surrender."
On this day 84 years ago, PM Winston Churchill said these words. 4 years later, the Allies prepared to launch the largest amphibious invasion in history.
#DDay80
#OTD
#Normandy
“The poppy is a flower of remembrance and it means a lot to me.” ❤️ Harry Billinge will never forget. And neither will we.
#Remembrance
#RemembranceSunday
Today we bid a final farewell to D-Day Veteran Harry Billinge. This is a short tribute to Harry, featuring a few of the most memorable moments of his extraordinary journey fundraising and campaigning for the British Normandy Memorial. Rest in peace, our dear friend. ❤️
Our Normandy Veteran Patron George Batts MBE is 97 today! On this special day, we share a short video capturing his emotional reaction to seeing his dream finally realised. George visited the completed Memorial for the first time in October 2021.
Happy Birthday George!
We are so saddened to learn of the death of D-Day Veteran & Memorial Ambassador Jack Quinn, who passed away yesterday, aged 99.
Jack was a much loved supporter of the Memorial project & last June was appointed Ambassador.
Our deepest condolences to Jack's family & friends.❤️
“Overwhelming. I don’t deserve that.”
Harry Billinge MBE has a train named after him. ❤️ As ever, the Trust is so grateful to you for everything you’ve done.
Private Andrew Newham of No. 6 Commando landed on Sword Beach on D-Day. A few weeks later, he received news that his daughter Valerie had been born. On 20 August he was killed whilst being treated at a casualty clearing station.
He never got to meet his little girl. ❤️
#DDay80
“All the heroes are dead and I’ll never forget them as long as I live.”
❤️And we will never forget Harry.❤️
Today marks the 2nd anniversary of Harry Billinge’s death.
@BBCBreakfast
audiences took him to their hearts after his many appearances.
We are honoured that 103-year-old D-Day Veteran Harry Howarth visited the British Normandy Memorial for the first time today, finding the names of his fallen comrades on the D-Day Wall in Memorial Court.
#DDay80
On this day 80 years ago, the first part of the Allied invasion fleet set off for Normandy. Carrying five men each, two mini submarines were sent ahead of the task force on a crucial and secret mission.
@thehistoryguy
tells the story.
#DDay80
#OTD
"I hope you don't mind me coming away without you saying goodbye but I gave you a kiss while you were asleep."
William Boardman landed 6 June with
@RoyalMarines
& died that morning as his landing craft was hit by a shell. He left behind his wife Nina & 3-year-old Helen.
#DDay80
The International Pipes & Drums Association for the D-Day commemorations performed this morning at the Memorial.
They perform in memory of Piper Bill Millin who landed on Sword Beach with Lord Lovat's troops & 177 French Commando under Commander Kieffer.
#DDay80
#Normandy
Today is the funeral of D-Day Veteran Norman Rose (Royal Marines 47 Commando). He died aged 98.
Norman was a great friend of the Normandy Memorial Trust. Sadly he never made it out to see the Memorial, so now his family will visit in honour of him.
Rest in Peace, Norman. ❤️
“Our generation saved the world.” 93-year-old Harry Billinge was just 18 when he landed on Gold Beach on D-Day. Harry has single-handedly raised over £10,000 for the
#NormandyMemorial
, in tribute to his fallen comrades.
#DDay75
#LestWeForget
We are saddened to hear that D-Day Veteran Harry Howarth, who recently visited the Memorial, has passed away aged 103. We send our deepest condolences to Harry's family and friends.
The Trust is delighted to share this very special photograph of D-Day Veteran and fundraiser Harry Billinge MBE. Harry received his medal from Her Majesty The Queen today for raising more than £30,000 for the building of the British Normandy Memorial. Congratulations, Harry!
"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."
We remember our dear friend Harry Billinge on what would have been his 98th birthday. ❤️
We miss you, Harry.
The Trust is so sad to learn of the passing of D-Day Veteran and Memorial Ambassador Joe Cattini. Joe died on Tuesday 18 April 2023 just three months after his 100th birthday.
We send our deepest condolences to Joe's children and their families. ❤️
A touching moment as 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Mervyn Kersh meets local French children paying their tributes at the British Normandy Memorial.
#DDay79
.
Happy 100th Birthday to D-Day Veteran and Memorial Ambassador Joe Cattini!
Thank you Joe for your continued support of the Memorial project. Wishing you a wonderful day of celebrations.
"The memory of those people come to me as I'm standing here looking at the marvellous tribute they have given them."
@Vicky_McClure
's grandfather D-Day Veteran Ralph McClure visits the British Normandy Memorial for
@ITV
documentary
#MyGrandadsWar
.
#DDay79
Memorial Ambassador and Normandy Veteran Ken Hay MBE read the Exhortation at the
#DDay80
commemorations on Thursday, in the presence of his fellow Veterans and Their Majesties The King and The Queen.
📷
@belperbarlow
/ PA Wire
D-Day was delayed due to bad weather but even when forces landed 12 days later the sea was still incredibly rough. Today's D-Day 75 Story is from Veteran Joseph Mark who recalls the day he arrived in Normandy.
#dday75
#sacrificeforfreedom
#normandymemorial
There is still time to experience the unique emotion of standing with Giants at the British Normandy Memorial.
The installation is in place through the summer until 31 August.
#DDay80
#StandingwithGiants
#Normandy
On 6 June 2019, the Memorial site overlooking Gold Beach was officially inaugurated. Since then, significant construction work has taken place and the Memorial is really taking shape. The Trust is delighted to share this
#DDay76
film to show how far we've come.
#DDay
"Dear Brenda, I hope you are getting along alright at school & are being good & helping Mummy. Kiss sister Pat for me & I hope to see you both soon. Lots of love, Daddy xxxx"
Lance Cpl Ted Knowlson sent a note to 6-year-old Brenda. He died the same day it was written.❤️
#DDay80
It is a great honour to announce that His Majesty The King is Royal Patron of the Normandy Memorial Trust.
Statement from Chairman General Lord Richard Dannatt:
@RoyalFamily
#DDay80
📷Hugo Burnand
The British Normandy Memorial on the 79th anniversary of D-Day.
The names of 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who fell on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy. Inscribed in stone, to be remembered for ever.
Today we remember our dear friend Harry Billinge, who would have celebrated his 97th birthday.
In March 2020, Harry received his MBE from Her Majesty The Queen. A special moment none of us will ever forget.
One by one, with their heads bowed, the ‘giants’ are rising among the fields of the Memorial site, with the view out to Gold Beach in the distance.
A most poignant tribute on this 80th anniversary year.
Credit: Standing with Giants
#DDay80
#StandingWithGiants
Today we said a final farewell to D-Day Veteran and Memorial Ambassador, Jack Quinn, who died aged 99.
Jack Quinn CDG Leg d’Hon was Coxwain of a landing craft and crept in to the Normandy shore under cover of darkness on the night of 5 June 1944.
Rest in Peace, dear friend. ❤️
He was just 25, but had already seen combat at Dunkirk when he landed in Normandy.
@BritishArmy
Private Walter Harbach went on to take part in fierce fighting with tragic consequences.
#DDay80