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| D-Day 'killing field' remembered on 70th anniversary | D-Day 'killing field' remembered on 70th anniversary |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| D-Day veterans are returning to the Normandy "killing field" where many of their comrades died 70 years ago. | D-Day veterans are returning to the Normandy "killing field" where many of their comrades died 70 years ago. |
| Events are taking place ahead of Friday's major commemoration attended by world leaders in France. | Events are taking place ahead of Friday's major commemoration attended by world leaders in France. |
| More than 650 UK veterans are expected at the Sword Beach ceremony on Friday, and many will sail on HMS Bulwark from Portsmouth to Normandy on Thursday. | More than 650 UK veterans are expected at the Sword Beach ceremony on Friday, and many will sail on HMS Bulwark from Portsmouth to Normandy on Thursday. |
| Former troops, cadets and serving members of the armed forces are attending a parade in Portsmouth. | |
| In France, the Prince of Wales is attending a memorial service to mark the taking of the strategic Pegasus Bridge. | In France, the Prince of Wales is attending a memorial service to mark the taking of the strategic Pegasus Bridge. |
| The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will mark the D-Day anniversary during a state visit to France which begins later in Paris. | The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will mark the D-Day anniversary during a state visit to France which begins later in Paris. |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| By Jane Peel, BBC News, in Arromanches, Normandy | By Jane Peel, BBC News, in Arromanches, Normandy |
| The towns may have French names, but the five Allied landing beaches are still known as Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword. | The towns may have French names, but the five Allied landing beaches are still known as Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword. |
| It is 70 years since D-Day, the biggest amphibious assault in military history. | It is 70 years since D-Day, the biggest amphibious assault in military history. |
| Prince Charles is at Pegasus Bridge, a strategic crossing which British troops captured within minutes of landing in gliders just after midnight on 6 June 1944. A mass parachute drop will take place in Ranville, the first village to be liberated. | Prince Charles is at Pegasus Bridge, a strategic crossing which British troops captured within minutes of landing in gliders just after midnight on 6 June 1944. A mass parachute drop will take place in Ranville, the first village to be liberated. |
| On the anniversary itself, the Queen will head an international service of commemoration attended by royals, presidents and prime ministers. | On the anniversary itself, the Queen will head an international service of commemoration attended by royals, presidents and prime ministers. |
| Hundreds of veterans are here, but their numbers are dwindling. The youngest are well into their 80s. This will be the last significant anniversary most will witness. | Hundreds of veterans are here, but their numbers are dwindling. The youngest are well into their 80s. This will be the last significant anniversary most will witness. |
| Their stories of heroism and sacrifice, success and disaster will soon fade from living memory. | Their stories of heroism and sacrifice, success and disaster will soon fade from living memory. |
| An emotional 88-year-old Sapper Harry Billinge said: "It was a killing field. I hope they will not forget the poor devils that died here." | An emotional 88-year-old Sapper Harry Billinge said: "It was a killing field. I hope they will not forget the poor devils that died here." |
| Navy veteran Charlie Stretch said D-Day was his last day as a teenager. | Navy veteran Charlie Stretch said D-Day was his last day as a teenager. |
| "I was 20 the next day and I didn't think I'd see 20," he said. | "I was 20 the next day and I didn't think I'd see 20," he said. |
| "In the navy you didn't get your tot [of rum] until you were 20 so I thought I'd go without having tasted rum." | "In the navy you didn't get your tot [of rum] until you were 20 so I thought I'd go without having tasted rum." |
| Fellow veteran Les Reeves said the commemorations were in honour of "the lads that never saw the White Cliffs [of Dover]" after crossing the Channel for the invasion. | Fellow veteran Les Reeves said the commemorations were in honour of "the lads that never saw the White Cliffs [of Dover]" after crossing the Channel for the invasion. |
| Dougle Morton, who was 23 on D-Day and landed on Sword Beach, said he was among a group of soldiers locked in a "prison camp" in Hastings before the invasion as Allied commanders tried to keep their plans secret. | Dougle Morton, who was 23 on D-Day and landed on Sword Beach, said he was among a group of soldiers locked in a "prison camp" in Hastings before the invasion as Allied commanders tried to keep their plans secret. |
| He said he remembered playing cards during the crossing and, asked what he felt about being part of such a massive operation, he said: "We had a job to do and we did it." | He said he remembered playing cards during the crossing and, asked what he felt about being part of such a massive operation, he said: "We had a job to do and we did it." |
| About 160,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel in the initial D-Day assault on 6 June 1944, paving the way for the defeat of Nazi Germany. | About 160,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel in the initial D-Day assault on 6 June 1944, paving the way for the defeat of Nazi Germany. |
| Heads of state from 17 nations are to attend the international ceremony at Sword Beach on Friday, the easternmost of the five landing sites. | Heads of state from 17 nations are to attend the international ceremony at Sword Beach on Friday, the easternmost of the five landing sites. |
| The Princess Royal is at the ceremony in Portsmouth, which was the headquarters and main departure point for troops heading to Sword Beach. | |
| There will also be an amphibious assault demonstration on Southsea seafront by the Royal Marines and Royal Navy and a display by the Red Arrows. | There will also be an amphibious assault demonstration on Southsea seafront by the Royal Marines and Royal Navy and a display by the Red Arrows. |
| Later in the evening, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will pay tribute to the veterans. | Later in the evening, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will pay tribute to the veterans. |
| HMS Bulwark is due to set sail at 18:00 BST with four vessels from other countries. | HMS Bulwark is due to set sail at 18:00 BST with four vessels from other countries. |
| The taking of Pegasus Bridge near to the French city of Caen by British paratroopers and glider-borne troops was a major triumph for the Allies in the early stages of D-Day. | The taking of Pegasus Bridge near to the French city of Caen by British paratroopers and glider-borne troops was a major triumph for the Allies in the early stages of D-Day. |
| The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are expected to lay wreath at the glider pilot memorial and meet veterans. They will both also attend the main international event on Friday. | The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are expected to lay wreath at the glider pilot memorial and meet veterans. They will both also attend the main international event on Friday. |
| But the Normandy Veterans' Association says its numbers have fallen to around 600 from about 15,000 and has announced it will disband in November. | But the Normandy Veterans' Association says its numbers have fallen to around 600 from about 15,000 and has announced it will disband in November. |
| What was D-Day? | What was D-Day? |
| On 6 June 1944, British, US and Canadian forces invaded the coast of northern France in Normandy. | On 6 June 1944, British, US and Canadian forces invaded the coast of northern France in Normandy. |
| The landings were the first stage of Operation Overlord - the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe - and were intended to bring World War Two to an end. | The landings were the first stage of Operation Overlord - the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe - and were intended to bring World War Two to an end. |
| Portsmouth's D-Day Museum says an estimated 2,500 Allied troops died on the day of the invasion. | Portsmouth's D-Day Museum says an estimated 2,500 Allied troops died on the day of the invasion. |
| By the end of D-Day, the Allies had established a foothold in France. Within 11 months Nazi Germany was defeated. | By the end of D-Day, the Allies had established a foothold in France. Within 11 months Nazi Germany was defeated. |