Commemorative events have begun in Normandy, marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings, which laid the foundations for the Allied victory on the Western Front.
Codenamed Operation Neptune, the combined naval, land, and air assault on German-occupied France was designed to secure a foothold for the Allies – paving the way for defeating the Nazis and liberating Europe.
With more than 150,000 troops from the UK, US, and Canada, along with supporting units from various Allied nations taking part in the initial assault, it was an immense, high-risk undertaking.
'We have no right to forget them'
Two surviving veterans from the campaign attended the memorial service held at Colville-Montgomery near Sword Beach, which served as one of the primary landing areas during the invasion.
Among them was Ken Hay MBE, who was 17 years old when he landed on Juno Beach five days after the initial D-Day assault.
Speaking to BFBS Forces News, the 100-year-old described attending the service as a matter of "duty".
A Memorial Ambassador, Ken has attended multiple commemorations. Asked what motivates him to keep coming back, he said: "The chaps we leave behind – we have no right to go home and forget them.
"We come here because a lot of them are not known to us; they're just names. But then you go to our wonderful memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, and suddenly there's a name that you know."
He added poignantly: "You knew that chap, you know his face – and it changes everything."
Advising future generations
For Ken's generation, there is a strong sense of passing on their stories to the younger generations to make sure they are never forgotten.
"I go to school quite a lot. It's not only putting their history pages into life," he said.
"Their grandad was there, or their great-grandad was there, and suddenly there's an old geezer who was there with him [who] might have known my grandad – that sort of thing.
"We're talking about what they've heard in their family, as somebody who was there. It doesn't matter about being me – it's just a representative of that generation, and it's connecting the generation."
Ken explained that he often asks students to write him a letter after his talks. Recalling one school visit, he described sitting in a chair while around 90 to 120 pupils sat on the floor listening to him.
"And I get 120 letters delivered to me, to tell me what they liked about my talk, what they didn't like, what they want to be when they grow up.
"It all connects, and my hopeful theme at the end is, whatever you can do in your future life when you grow up, whatever politics, religion, drama, what you're in – do something to stop wars."
Joining him at the service was fellow D-Day veteran and centenarian Henry Rice, who arrived off the coast of Juno Beach five days after the initial invasion.
Speaking to BFBS Forces News, he said: "I appreciate – I really, really appreciate – the kindness and the attitude of everybody.
"I mean, just look at them [the crowds]. They're applauding both of us, the two veterans who are here at the moment – and I love it," he said with a smile.
We will bring you further coverage of commemorative events as they unfold throughout the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings.
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