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D-Day 80. A time to remember and celebrate

2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy - the most decisive turning point in the Second World War.

Published on 10 Jun 2024

To mark the momentous occasion of the 80th anniversary of D-Day we wanted to take the opportunity to share the extraordinary first-hand experiences of our veterans who were there, serving across the Navy, Army and Air Force.

Risking their lives for freedom and peace, each one played a critical role in what is still the largest seaborne invasion the world has ever seen.

We partnered with an award-winning photographer, Richard Cannon to capture and share the images of 16 blind veterans who served on or influenced D-Day in some way.

As well as being shared alongside their stories in our own commemorative magazine many were also displayed at the National Army Museum in London and the newly opened Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning in Normandy.

We were also able to display the images on the digital screens at Outernet, London, right in the heart of Soho, as well as in Portsmouth.

Blind D-Day veteran George sitting in front of the London billboard showing his portrait — D-Day veteran George sitting in front of the London billboard showing his portrait

Six black and white portraits of blind D-Day veterans on display at the Winston Churchill Centre in Normandy — Portraits of blind D-Day veterans on display at the Winston Churchill Centre in Normandy

Five large black and white canvas images are displayed in a semi circle within a gallery space — Our D-Day 80 exhibition at the National Army Museum

99-year-old blind D-Day veteran George was able to visit the digital billboards in London and enjoy the celebrity that came with having his name up in lights.

George served as a gunner on a torpedo boat during D-Day, tasked with escorting American forces to Omaha and Utah beaches, and protecting the fleet from German E and R-boat attacks.

George said: “My sight is quite limited so I couldn’t see it in detail but it was exciting to be there and know I was up there with my fellow D-Day veterans. My son was there with me and he could describe what it looked like so that was nice."

Blind veteran George in a suit wearing his medals and sitting in a chair — George
Blind D-Day veteran

Guest of honour

George was also guest of honour at our special dinner in London for blind veterans to mark the 80^th anniversary.

George and the other WWII veterans attending were presented with a silver Blind Veterans UK coin. Guests were entertained by the D-Day Darlings and George was interviewed about his memories of the day and his time in service including the Navy's very interesting uses for boot polish.

Blind D-Day veteran George sitting with two D-Day darling singers at our D-Day 80 event in London — Blind D-Day veteran George with the D-Day darlings at our D-Day 80 event in London

D-Day 80: In their own words

You can still read and share the extraordinary first-hand experiences of our brave veterans who were there, fighting on the beaches of Normandy.

Read and listen to their incredible stories

A LCVP from the US Coast Guard disembarks troops of the U.S. army's first division on the morning of D-Day

We joined the rest of the country in lighting a beacon on the beach outside our Rustington Centre at 9.15pm on 6th June. The beacon was lit by our President and blind veteran Colin Williamson and were pleased that so many in the local community came out to join us.

10 blind veterans and escorts attended the D-Day 80 parade in Llandudno with staff and volunteers which marched along the promenade to the war memorial. Our Llandudno Centre also created an amazing D-Day 80 poppy display in the grounds out of the knitted poppies.

Our South Wales Community Team were proud to arrange an event to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Swansea.

Two of the veterans attending landed on the beaches and others served during WWII and we were able to bring them together for the first time to mark the milestone.

The lit D Day 80 beacon at our Rustington Centre

A poppy display at our Llandudno Centre spelling out "D Day 80" with four Blind Veterans UK vehicles behind it — A poppy display at our Llandudno Centre spelling out "D Day 80"

Six blind second world war veterans sitting on the front row with the Lord at the D Day 80 event in Swansea with the Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan and Veterans Commissioner for Wales standing behind — Blind WWII veterans at the D Day 80 event in Swansea

CEO of Blind Veterans UK, Adrian Bell, said: “When talking to our veterans about their experience of D-Day, many often dismiss or trivialise as unimportant the part they played. Many say that they were no more than a small cog in a huge enterprise.

“However, when we take a step back and consider the scale and ultimate success of the operation, it could not have succeeded without such commitment from so many people playing their part."