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D-day veterans and world leaders arrive in Portsmouth to vast security D-day veterans and world leaders take part in emotional ceremony
(about 4 hours later)
D-day veterans and world leaders have arrived in Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings amid a vast security operation to safeguard dignitaries including the Queen, Donald Trump and Theresa May. D-day veterans and world leaders have taken part in an emotional ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings, with a vast security operation safeguarding dignitaries including the Queen, Donald Trump and Theresa May.
Miles of fencing, roadblocks and checkpoints have been set up and residents have been told not to aim long-lens cameras at the national commemoration event on Southsea Common from nearby flats or fly drones over the common. Protests against the US president are expected to take place both a mile away in the city centre and around the perimeter fence. Miles of fencing, roadblocks and checkpoints were in place and residents of nearby flats were told not to aim long-lens cameras at the national commemoration event on Southsea Common, or fly drones over the common.
But veterans, their families and politicians are calling for the focus of the event, which will include emotional testimonials from survivors, to be on those who fought and fell rather than on the Trump circus. For many, it is likely to be the last major anniversary they will attend. Protests against the US president took place a mile away in the city centre, but the focus on the common was on the stories of the operation three-quarters of a century ago and those who fought and fell, rather than the Trump circus.
Some Portsmouth residents feel excluded from the commemoration because of the ring of steel and the scale of the event, which is being run by the Ministry of Defence, but thousands are expected to watch from big screens set up outside the cordon. The warmest applause was reserved for the veterans when they took to the stage. John Jenkins, 99, from Portsmouth, was a platoon sergeant with the Royal Pioneer Corps when he landed on D-Day.
Calls for D-day event to focus on veterans rather than Trump He said: “I was terrified; I think everyone was. You don’t show it, but it was there. I look back on it as a big part of my life. It changed me in a way. I was a small part in a big machine. You never forget your comrades, because we were all in it together. We must never forget.”
Ahead of the event, the 16 nations involved in the commemoration agreed a proclamation to mark the 75th anniversary. The statement, coordinated by the UK, recognises the sacrifice of those who took part in the second world war and salutes the surviving D-day veterans. Video recordings were played of other men who were at D-day. Bob Roberts, a Canadian veteran, recalled: “They said: ‘We are going to give you live ammunition and this is the real thing.’ That was the first we knew we were in action. I thought ‘My God, I was never brought up to be killing people’. There were so many cases where I could have lost my life. Thinking back now, I don’t know how I survived.”
In the proclamation, countries undertake to work together to find common ground and recommit to the shared values of democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. Trump read a prayer written by the then US president, Franklin D Roosevelt, and originally delivered on the evening of D-day – 6 June 1944.
It says: “Seventy-five years ago, our countries were about to embark on a decisive battle. On 6 June 1944, 160,000 allied troops landed at Normandy, signalling the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. Casualty figures on all sides were immense, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, aviators and civilians killed or wounded in the days and weeks that followed. The Queen said the fate of the world had depended on the success of the operation. “The heroism, courage and sacrifice of those who lost their lives will never be forgotten,” she said. “It is with humility and pleasure on behalf of the entire country, indeed the whole free world, that I say to you all – thank you.”
“We stand together today to honour the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on D-day, and those many millions of men and women who lost their lives during the second world war, the largest conflict in human history. May read a letter from Capt Norman Skinner of the Royal Army Service Corps, written to his wife, Gladys, on 3 June 1944. The letter was still in his pocket when he landed on Sword Beach on 6 June. Skinner was killed the day after, leaving his wife and two young daughters.
“Over the last 75 years, our nations have stood up for peace in Europe and globally, for democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. We re-commit today to those shared values because they support the stability and prosperity of our nations and our people.” The letter read: “Although I would give anything to be back with you, I have not yet had any wish at all to back down from the job we have to do.”
The text has been agreed by the 16 countries attending the Portsmouth commemorations: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, the UK and the US. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, read the final letter of Henri Fertet, a resistance fighter executed aged 16. “The soldiers are coming to get me. I must hurry. My handwriting may look wobbly, but it is just because I am using a small pencil. I am not afraid of death, my conscience is completely clear … A thousand kisses. Long live France,” he wrote.
Penny Mordaunt, the UK defence secretary, said: “It is our chance, perhaps our last chance, to say thank you to these amazing individuals. The courage that they showed, the immense scale of that is breathtaking and we should pause today to remember that and all those who are not here today.” There had been some complaints from locals that they felt excluded because of the huge security effort.
The prime minister is to call for unity in western Europe, adding: “The global challenges we face today are different in their origin and nature. But as we confront new and evolving threats to our security it is more important than ever that we continue to stand together in upholding our shared values and way of life.” But there was a festival atmosphere in the public viewing area on Southsea Common, where visitors could watch the official ceremony on giant screens.
After a reception with veterans, world leaders will meet to discuss the western alliance and security. People brought deckchairs and picnics, and grabbed spots in front of the screens. There were burger stands and beer tents, and merchandise stalls selling everything from souvenir mugs to fridge magnets and tea towels.
The public event will include testimony from veterans, theatrical performances, live music as well as a flypast of the Red Arrows and Spitfires. In the centre of Portsmouth, scuffles broke out after groups of football casuals marched through a protest against Trump.
Later, from the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, May will wave off the hundreds of veterans who are to retrace the journey they made across the channel 75 years ago, this time aboard a cruise ship, the MV Boudicca, A few dozen men marching behind a banner with the Portsmouth FC crest at the centre of a union flag chanted “Scum, scum, scum” as they arrived midway through speeches by trade unionists and others who had organised a gathering of a few hundred people in Guildhall Square.
Ernie Nelson, a 95-year-old veteran from Cheshire, said it was “first class” to be back in Portsmouth for the 75th anniversary. Nelson was a wireless telegraphist on HMS Scourge, which escorted convoys to Sword beach and provided fire support to troops when they landed. Police stepped in as the men scattered and tried to square up to those in the protest, who broke into chants of “Nazi scum, off our streets”.
“A lot of memories come back to me, that’s the trouble,” he said. “I get flashbacks, I remember the people I was with at that time.” Amid some pushing and shoving, one man with a US flag wrapped around his waist grabbed one of the protest placards and snapped it.
His daughter, Susan Conneely, said she hoped the focus would be on the survivors and the fallen: “It’s all about remembrance, it’s not about politics.” Ahead of the event, the 16 nations involved in the commemorations agreed a proclamation to mark the anniversary. The statement, coordinated by the UK, recognises the sacrifice of those who took part in the second world war and salutes the surviving D-day veterans.
Letitia Abbott, a US citizen, was in Portsmouth to remember her father, Jack, who landed at Omaha beach on D-day. “He was deeply affected,” she said. “He would talk about it but he couldn’t do some things, such as go to the movies, for years after. It was just too much for him. I’m here because I loved my father and I wanted my son [also Jack] to come here and understand it all.” In the proclamation, the countries undertake to work together to find common ground and recommit to the shared values of democracy, tolerance and the rule of law.
The text was agreed by Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, the UK and the US.
After a reception with veterans, the world leaders who attended the ceremony met to discuss Nato and security.
Later, from the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, May was to wave off the hundreds of veterans who are to retrace the journey they made across the Channel, this time onboard a cruise ship, the MV Boudicca.
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