by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:23rd July 2024
Honouring the sacrifice of ‘their today’
Gary and I have explored the beautiful region of Normandy in France on several occasions. We have visited many of the touching memorials and perfectly manicured cemeteries meticulously maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The CWGC undertake a magnificent role in keeping their cemeteries immaculate, from the heart-wrenching swathe of headstones found in Bayeux War Cemetery to the solitary headstone located in a roadside churchyard. They are all afforded the same dignity and respect.
A few years ago, while in France, we visited the five D-Day Landing Beaches of Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah. However, when watching the 80th D-Day anniversary commemorations in June 2024, aired from the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, we knew that we needed to head back to France. It would be an honour to wend our way amongst the heavily burdened shoulders of the “Standing with Giants” installation.
Why not Pin it for later?
We live in the southeast of the UK, and we’re so fortunate to have the delights of France on our doorstep. So, with our recently purchased all-electric Polestar 2, we’re heading off on an EV mini road trip to Normandy.
Normandy memorial statue
Where is British Normandy Memorial?
How to get to British Normandy Memorial
- By Car
Departing from the UK to France, there are various options. You can either jump on Le Shuttle and arrive in Calais in 35 minutes or enjoy a leisurely cruise on the open waves with DFDS or P&O. Alternatively, you can head down to the south coast of England and catch Brittany Ferry directly to Normandy.
- By Air
If you’re flying into France, search for your flights in one easy place with Booking.com. This reliable travel search engine will scan for your favoured routes and chosen dates. Pre-book your hire car from Rental Cars, and your adventure begins.
Visiting the British Normandy Memorial
Where it all beganI always get a lump in my throat when I approach memorials and cemeteries on the scale of the British Normandy Memorial. They unequivocally highlight the scale of human sacrifice undertaken by our forebearers and are so extremely touching.
The approach to the British Normandy Memorial
Incredibly, the British Normandy Memorial is a recent addition to the Normandy landscape. It was officially opened on 6th June 2021 (via video link) by the then HRH The Prince of Wales.
The seed of hope for the memorial began in July 2015 with Normandy War Veteran George Batts, who served with the Royal Engineers on D-Day. George mentioned to BBC broadcaster Nicholas Witchell that the United Kingdom, alone amongst the WWII Allied nations, did not have its own national memorial, which was specifically dedicated to those who lost their lives on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy and served under British command.
They will never be forgotten
A trust was established, and the wheels were put in motion, with the majority of the funding being financed by the British Government.
Where to stay in Bayeux
Hôtel d'Argouges
The Hôtel d'Argouges is centrally located, just a short stroll from the historic Old Town and many of Bayeux’s significant sights.
This beautiful 18th century house has many of its original and traditional features and has a charming, peaceful garden to relax in after a long day exploring the city. Hôtel d'Argouges has plenty of onsite parking, which is free of charge.
Alternatively, pop your dates in the Booking.com search box and discover further options for all budgets.
“Gold Beach”, the perfect location
The shores of the English ChannelIn September 2016, the perfect site for the memorial was found just outside Ver-sur-Mer in France.
The site chosen was then farmland and had unobstructed views overlooking “Gold Beach”. It stirs emotions when you first arrive at the British Normandy Memorial and look across the peaceful bay to the English Channel beyond.
Open farmland to Gold Beach
Finalising the feasibility of the location and the Memorial’s design continued through 2017/18, as did gathering the definitive list of names of the fallen during D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. The site's formal inauguration took place on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, 6th June 2019.
The sign to Gold Beach
Then came the construction of the site. The British stonemasons chosen were located in Northern Ireland, and the four thousand tons of Massangis stone were shipped from France to them. The weighty and important task of meticulously cutting the 22,442 names of the fallen was underway.
Sea of names to the fallen
Magnificently, the memorial was completed in autumn 2020 and was ready for its official opening on 6th June 2021.
We made our little pilgrimage in 2024, the year of D-Day’s 80th anniversary.
We love visiting France and each region so different from one another. I find the DK Eyewitness Guides really helpful in planning a trip and so often find interesting little snippets of info.
Take a peek at this revised Top 10 Pocket Travel Guide and see what you can discover.
Exploring the British Normandy Memorial
A poignant tribute to those we lostThe encapsulating approach to the British Normandy Memorial leads you on an extraordinary journey through the advance on Normandy and its timeline. The huge stone pillars, inscribed in English and French, guide you through the punishing campaigns and the amphibious assault on the D-Day Landing Beaches and the Bridgehead.
Victory in Normandy
The gruelling story continues through the Battle of Caen, the Cauldron of Battle, the breakout in early July 1944, to the Victory in Normandy on 31st August 1944. The journey is astonishing and makes you feel incredibly humble.
A peaceful tribute
Strolling towards the main commemorations, the scale of the memorial gradually unfolds. Touching tributes and heartfelt messages are laid before you; it truly is a special place.
The British Normandy Memorial bears the names of 22,442 unforgotten individuals who died while enduring the horrific scenes of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy from the 6th of June to the 31st of August 1944.
These include British personnel and other nationalities serving in British units from more than 30 different countries.
Normandy remembers
The sea of names is a poignant reminder of those who are buried or commemorated throughout Normandy. Those “commemorated” are individuals who have no known grave or who were unidentified.
The memorial also includes the names of secret agents and special forces personnel who operated behind enemy lines and the brave individuals who fought across the skies of France from the Royal Air Force.
A statue to the courageous
The location chosen for the memorial is fitting as a remembrance of the courageous individuals. It evokes stirring images looking out across the bay. In the distance, you can even see sections of the Mulberry Harbour in Arromanches.
An aerial view of the commemoration displays how the British Normandy Memorial was laid out in the shape of the Union flag.
A distant view of the Mulberry Harbour in Arromanches
We take a walk amongst the unfurling ocean of columns to devote time to think of the fallen. On each stone pillar are the names of the absent, listed day-by-day in chronological order.
For every individual day, the names are grouped by branches of the armed forces, and the sequential listing of the names reflects the combat on that day. This means that the comrades fighting side by side on the frontline are listed side by side on the memorial, near the names of those from other units or forces fighting beside them when they lost their lives.
The unfurling columns of names
Comrades in arms
We owe these comrades in arms so much; thank you for giving your today for our tomorrow.
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“Standing with Giants”
A field of sacrificeOne of the main reasons we wanted to visit the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France so soon after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, was to share the experience of “Standing with Giants”. This magnificent installation of 1,475 silhouettes is named ‘For Your Tomorrow’ and reflects the number of servicemen who died on D-Day, 6th of June 1944, serving under British command.
Across the Normandy shores
Each service member was individually made from recycled materials and transported from Oxfordshire to the Normandy coast. Along with the 1,475 silhouettes, the Women’s Institute handmade 22,442 knitted poppies. These decorated the figures and represented the total number of personnel who lost their lives during the Battle of Normandy.
‘For Your Tomorrow’
Nurses Sister Evershed and Sister Field
Standing as a reminder of the atrocities of D-Day are the figures of the only two women on the Memorial. They are nurses Sister Evershed and Sister Field, who died while saving 75 men from a sinking hospital ship.
“Standing with Giants”
One of the highlights of our visit to the British Normandy Memorial was strolling along the trail through the wild meadow fields and brushing by the 1,475 figures. It was an incredibly moving experience I will never forget.
Amongst the meadow fields
This ‘For Your Tomorrow’ art installation is truly breathtaking, and its present location along “Gold Beach” is, for me, where it should remain. However, the beautiful silhouettes are only here until 31st August 2024, when they will be transported back to the beautiful National Trust site, Stowe Gardens, in Buckinghamshire.
So, if you are unable to visit France, you still have the opportunity to visit the ‘Standing with Giants’ in the UK.
Our video of British Normandy Memorial
We have created a little YouTube video of our visit to the British Normandy Memorial. Why not take a look?
Also, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel and get the latest clips as we post them?
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