Memories of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy 1944

Naina Cox

I wonder if I was the youngest person officially on duty on D-Day? At the age of 16 I found myself nursing wounded men (including German prisoners) at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, on the afternoon of 6 June 1944.

Don & Terry Holman

As a lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps, I landed with my platoon of 33 DUKWs on D-Day. My recollections describe an unpleasant experience and a lucky escape. ~ Don Holman

I was 12 years old on D-Day and these are my memories of seeing the airborne troops passing over my home and the impact this had on me. ~ Terry Holman

Frank & Molly Lawson

My unit was the 13th Canadian Field Regiment Artillery. Molly and I were married on 14 June 1943 and on D-Day I was awaiting the birth of our first child. We were told that we were to land on JUNO beach, on an uncleared minefield and that 50% casualties were expected. ~ Frank Lawson

I can remember D-Day as clearly as if it were yesterday. Our first baby was already two days overdue on 6 June. He wasn’t born until 18 June, and at that time I hadn’t heard if Frank was still alive, but he was one of the lucky ones. ~
Molly Lawson

Mollie Reed

I am the Secretary of the D-Day and Normandy Fellowship, a duty performed in gratitude and loving memory of my husband, Laurie, who died in 1988. We were the Fellowship’s Joint Secretaries for many years. This is my small contribution to the Fellowship’s ‘D-Day Memories’.