Heroes of D-Day sail into Normandy for 80th anniversary commemorations
D-Day veterans have returned to Normandy 80 years on since taking part in the daring operation that turned the tide of the Second World War.
Royal Navy patrol vessels HMS Trumpeter, Medusa and Basher, plus minehunter HMS Cattistock, accompanied the Brittany Ferries ship carrying the veterans as she set sail from Portsmouth Harbour.
Tugs sprayed water as the vessel left the port, with the D-Day veterans on the deck waving to crowds that had gathered around Portsmouth's Round Tower and harbour walls.
As the ferry passed HMS Prince of Wales, which is currently alongside in Portsmouth, personnel on the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier stood to attention.
Once out and into the Solent, the veterans looked to the skies as a flypast was performed by an RAF A400M transport aircraft.
Veteran John Dennett, 99, was interrupted by the flypast as he spoke to Forces News and quipped: "Couldn't ask for more than that!
"Very good of them [RAF] to do it for us. They're recognising what we did.
"I know it's history, but technically we're part of history now and the kids in the future might get taught that.
"It's a wonderful thing taking part... after all these years.
"You realise now that you were part of what happened that what makes what we are today.
"I realise now that our fighting in the war was the beginning of the end for the Germans. It was the start of our freedom."
Also on board the ferry to Normandy was Charles Horne, who served on a wooden minesweeper and helped clear the way for troops to land on D-Day.
"Before we started, we had a large glass of rum each," he explained.
"It was frightening actually, we were a wee bit scared and a wee bit worried. But it was interesting as well."
Henry Montgomery, the grandson of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, who commanded the Allied ground forces on D-Day, joined the veterans for the journey.
"It's a big event, and this is probably the last big event where we'll have a significant number of veterans coming," he said.
"It's exciting, looking forward to it, it's always good fun.
"But it is also very, very moving and emotional watching them [the veterans] sit quietly with their clear memories of what happened, what they experienced in the campaign."
As the ferry made its way across the Channel, two of the veterans took part in a wreath-laying ceremony to honour their fallen comrades 80 years on.
They dropped the wreath into the sea and saluted as a piper played.
The veterans travelled to Caen with the Spirit of Normandy Trust and the Royal British Legion.
For Reverend Mandy Reynolds, Chaplain of the Spirit of Normandy Trust, the occasion is particularly personal.
"I've been coming for the last 13/14 years now to do this," she said.
"My dad was a Normandy veteran, so it's very poignant.
"He came home and raised a family and provided a living for us, but it's very poignant remembering what he did because he didn't talk about it.
"It wasn't until I joined the Army and went to Germany that he actually opened up a little bit. It's remembering him and what he did as well."
Also on board was the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's commemorative torch, which has been relayed across the UK ahead of playing a central role in a ceremony on Wednesday.
Commemorations will be taking place across Normandy this week to mark 80 years of D-Day, which was the biggest amphibious invasion in history.
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