Once upon a time,
the planning of the greatest seaborne invasion ever took place.
Four years in the preparation, Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, marked the beginning of the end of World War II and the eventual liberation of Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D-Day hour by hour

GOLD Beach on D-Day

First Allied troops to land: 50th (Northumbrian) Division, led by 69th and 231st Brigades, 8th Armoured Brigade.

JUNO Beach on D-Day

First Allied troops to land: 3rd Canadian Division, led by 7th and 8th Brigades, and 6th Armoured Regiment.

OMAHA Beach on D-Day

First Allied troops to land: 16th Regimental Combat Team (US 1st Division) and 116th Regimental Combat Team (29th Division), 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions.

SWORD Beach on D-Day

First Allied troops to land: 3rd British Division, led by 8th Infantry Brigade Group.

UTAH Beach on D-Day

First Allied troops to land: US 4th Infantry Division, led by 8th Regimental Combat Team.

D-Day Museum & Overlord Embroidery
Visit the City Museums site
Visit the Natural History Museum Site
Visit the Southsea Castle site
Visit the Records Office site
Visit the Charles Dickens site
Visit the Portsmouth Museum Portal site

Memories of D-Day
Visit the Paths of Memory Website