It is 80 years since one of the greatest military campaigns in history, and the perfect time to visit glorious Normandy, says John Sootheran
The statistics are incredible. On 6 June 1944, 133,000 allied troops landed on the wide, sandy beaches of Normandy, attempting to establish a beachhead from which Britain and its allies could punch their way into mainland Europe and take the fight to Hitler.
Some 7000 ships transported them there, with 195,000 crew on those boats and British battleships pounding the shoreline defences in preparation for the landings. Against all odds, a beachhead was created, but the price paid was incredibly high, with the operation resulting in 10,300 allied casualties.
Now, eight decades on, we are commemorating and celebrating the bravery and sacrifice of those lost souls, and it is the emotion of that act that makes Normandy such a special place to visit, beyond its other attributes.
This year has added poignancy as it is likely to be the last significant anniversary when any sizeable number of D-Day veterans will attend. And attending is a special thing to do. I caravanned to Normandy with my family in 2014 to attend the extraordinary 70th anniversary commemorations, along with hundreds of war veterans, the youngest in their mid-eighties.
I felt it was important that my kids knew about the sacrifices made all those years ago, so that we could have the amazing lives we lead today.
Plenty to keep you busy
Caravanning to Normandy is an excellent, very cost-effective way to experience the D-Day commemorations, with high-quality campsites all along the coast, and a multitude of events and attractions to choose from.
Don’t think that a visit to Normandy this June will be overly sombre. While the commemorations can be emotional, the proceedings are a genuine celebration of those heroic actions in 1944.
Normandy is a sensational region. It far exceeded my expectations thanks to its
