Visiting the D-Day British Normandy Memorial in France
If you are a family member related to a war veteran from the UK or if you are interested in the history of the battle of Normandy and the Second World War then Visiting the D-Day British Normandy Memorial in France is a must. We visit the area every year and It is undoubtably one of the poignant memorials along this Stretch of coastland. Every time I visit it completely takes my breath away.
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The British Normandy Memorial is located near the village of Ver-sur-Mer in Normandy, France. It was unveiled on the June 6, 2021 to mark the 77th anniversary of D-Day. This memorial honours the soldiers who perished while serving under British command during the Second World War Normandy landings.
This is all you need to know before you go to the British Normandy Memorial facing the Sea that commemorates those lost at the D-day invasions.
Whilst there are many other memorials, cemeteries and museums to visit in the area of the Normandy d-day beaches this War memorial is the only one dedicated to the memory of the British Armed forces.
What is the British Normandy Memorial?
The British Normandy Memorial is an impressive structure on the coast of the Normandy beach landings situated on Gold Beach. The memorial lists the names of 22,442 young men and women who served under British command and died on D-Day and throughout the Battle of Normandy in the summer of 1944.
These individuals came from over 30 different countries and died between D-Day and the Liberation of Paris in August 1944. For the first time, their names are inscribed together in one place. The site also features a French Memorial dedicated to the French civilians who also lost their lives during this period.
Visiting the British Normandy Memorial in France
You can now visit the British Normandy Memorial as it is open to members of the public. It is free to visit, and it is open daily.
Countless veterans campaigned for the memorial as before there was no direct memorial for the British all in one place, now you can walk amongst the thousands of named heroes and pay your respects.
What is at the British Normandy Memorial?
You will find a huge structure on the coastline with structured lawns stone columns and sculptures. As you approach the memorial from a winding path through the newly planted pine trees, you are immediately aware of peace. The memorial is set in a landscape setting combined with architecture that looks at the sea. In the silence you become increasingly aware of the presence of the sea leading to garden with its formally laid out grass and columns.
The 7-metre-high 160 stone columns bear the names of the 22,442 people who lost their lives. This overwhelming sensation that you feel as you explore the memorial Leaves us with a dignified and permanent reminder of the struggle and price paid for peace.
Around the monument there are inscribed quotations and a French memorial commemorating the 20,000 civilians who died during combat in Normandy as well as a subtle reference to the ancient local churches and villages. This remembers the sacrifice made by French civilians. Everything around the memorial focuses on the views towards the sea and Gold beach soldiers came ashore on D-day.
Six stones on the approach of the Memorial
As you approach the memorial six huge stones are inscribed with information on the D-day landings and what took place. Each stone tells a different story; you will learn about the;
- The Beaches and the Bridgehead – 6 June to 15 June 1944
- Struggling to advance – 16 June to 30 June 1944
- The battle for Caen – 1 July to 15 July 1944
- The Cauldron of battle – 16 July to 29 July 1944
- The beginning of the break out – 30 July to 15 August 1944
- Victory in Normandy- 16th August to31st August 1944
The D-Day Sculpture by British sculptor David Williams-Ellis
The D-Day Sculpture by British sculptor David Williams-Ellis stands in tribute to all of the personnel under British command who landed on D-Day and who fought in the Battle of Normandy.
It portrays three British infantrymen coming ashore with three different types of guns. The expressions on their faces reflect the events that took place just below the vantage point of the memorial. The shape of the bas of the sculpture is meant to reflect the bow of a ship and the base also has the words of the D -day BBC broadcast around the edge.
It was the centrepiece at the inauguration of the Memorial site by Prime Minister Theresa May and President Emmanuel Macron on 6th June 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Wreath and Shields Sculpture
The centre memorial is the Wreath and Shields sculpture dedicated to the unknown warrior whose resting place is Westminster Abbey. This memorial is a reminder of the end of conflict and a symbol of peace. The Wreath and Shield stand at the centre of the Memorial’s quadrangle. The French sculptor Valentine Herrenschmidt designed the wreath and lettering, and Christophe Charbonnel designed the shield.
The shield symbolises the fortitude of fallen warriors and the wreath of laurel leaves signifies the honour that we owe to them. They are mounted on a stone plinth on which the words from The Grave of the Unknown Warrior, Westminster Abbey, London are inscribed.
The French Memorial
During the Battle of Normandy, the local French population suffered terrible casualties. They were trapped as they were between the liberating Allied forces and the retreating Nazis. Nobody knows the actual number of French and other civilians who died in towns like Caen, Carentan, Falaise and countless others.
This French Memorial stands in their memory.
Five Beach Waymarkers
The Five-way markers on the coastline of the memorial point to the beaches of Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach. From here, you can see what is left of the Mulberry harbour on Gold Beach.
For the Best Experience Download the Memorial App
Before you go download the British Normandy Memorial APP, they actually do not have many signs up telling you this now but it really is a must particularly if you wish to find someone. The app will guide you around the memorial showing you the various important aspects and information. The app shows the column by number, the locations of memorial structures and has audio you can listen to linking to the various important points.
Listen to Audio on the App
You can hear the voices of Veterans, popular figures and the stories of the Normandy landings. I found this so informative and listing to the voices of Veterans is very humbling.
The audio you can listen to is:
- British Veteran George Batts MBE, Leg d’Hon – Reflections from the Normandy Veteran Patron
- Six Steles The General The Lord Dannatt – Explanation on the texts carved onto the six stones you will see on the approach to the Memorial.
- Listen to the Location Of The Memorial Architect, Liam O’Connor, reflecting on the Memorial’s positioning and surrounding landscape.
- History Of The Memorial Site General The Lord Dannatt talking of the events that took place on and around the site of the Memorial.
- Sir Winston Churchill’s Speech – Sir Winston Churchill’s ‘We Shall Fight On The Beaches’ speech made 4 Jun 1940.
- King George VI – The stirring speech made by King George VI on D-Day
- The BBC Bulletin – The BBC’s Home Service bulletin which aired on D-Day.
- D-Day Sculpture British Sculptor David Williams – Ellis talking about the design of the D-Day Sculpture.
- Field Marshall Montgomery – Field Marshall Montgomery’s rousing message issued on the eve of D-Day.
- General Charles de Gaulle – Excerpts from General de Gaulle’s speech, broadcast on the BBC on D-Day, 6 June 1944.
- Five Waymarkers – General The Lord Dannatt describes the depictions featured on the five sculptural signposts.
- French Normandy Veteran – Léon Gautier Leg d’Hon.
- Harry Billinge MBE, Leg d’Hon. – Reflections from the Trust’s Normandy Veteran Ambassador.
- Story Of Stan Hollis VC General – The Lord Dannatt tells the story of the serviceman who won the sole Victoria Cross of D-Day.
- Thank You The Lord Ricketts’ – A message of thanks to visitors and supporters of the Memorial.
How do I find a name on the British Normandy memorial Wall?
The names of the 1,746 who died on D-Day itself are inscribed on the D-Day Wall of Memorial Court. Names are recorded by Armed Service: Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy, and”others”, including Special Agents and War Correspondents.
To find a name on the wall of the British Normandy memorial you can download the app ( British Normandy Memorial ). These are the instructions for finding a service man or woman on the memorial wall.
- Download the British Normandy memorial app.
- Open the App
- Tap on Find a name
- Add as many details as you know; these include name, initials, surname, date of death and service.
- If there are listing with the more than one similar name choose the correct person and tap to open.
- The memorial column number will be shown as well as a map location.
If you do not have the app, you will need the date of death, as the names of all of the servicemen and women who died on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy are listed on the Memorial in chronological order according to their date of death.
Facilities at the D Day British Memorial
The Memorial site is oriented east to west and runs parallel with the coast about 700m inland. The entrance to the memorial is at the east. At the site, you will find a car park, toilet facilities, a picnic area and a free WiFi hotspot. The Car Park has a charge of 3.50 euros and all proceeds go to the upkeep of the site.
It is approximately an 8-minute walk to the Memorial from the car park following the Memorial Walkway.
What were the D-Day Landings?
The Normandy D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II.
It was the largest seaborne invasion, known as Operation Overlord, this massive military assault involved over 156,000 American, British, and Canadian forces landing on five beachheads across a 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast in France. Supported by extensive aerial and naval bombardment, the Allies aimed to establish a foothold on the continent to begin the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.
Despite formidable German defenses and heavy casualties, the Allied forces succeeded in securing the beaches and pushing inland. The landings set the stage for the subsequent Battle of Normandy, which lasted until late August 1944. This campaign ultimately resulted in the liberation of Paris and significantly weakened the German war effort, marking a pivotal turning point in World War II.
Standing with Giants for the 80th anniversary of D Day
The British Normandy Memorial will be the site of the national commemorative event for the June ceremony 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings of D-Day on June 6, 2024. This year’s milestone marks the first major commemoration at the fully completed Memorial.
The Standing with Giants installation will also be displayed among the wildflower meadows of the Memorial campus until the end of August 2024.
Other places to visit near the Normandy British Memorial
These are other things you could do near here in one day:
- Bayeux British cemetery ( largest British cemetery )
- Ryes Bazenville War Cemetery, which is a British cemetery for the British 69th brigade.
- From the British Normandy memorial you can go along to Gold Beach and do the Museum du Debarkment in Arromanche. This is where you will see what’s left of the Mulberry harbour and how they built it.
- Also see my one day in Normandy D Day Landings post for other ideas.
