Normandy: Our D-Day 81 anniversary adventure

nikkicurran
Jul 1
4 min read

Updated: Jul 3

In June I went to Normandy for the D-Day commemorations - 81 years on.

The excitement was real. We set off for Normandy with our hearts full and a little stopover in Newhaven planned. The Premier Inn? Spot on for convenience.

Day 1

Ferry and our arrival to Ouistreham

We were up bright and early the next morning for the 9:30am DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe. Smooth sailing all the way. We had breakfast onboard, enjoyed the sunshine on deck, and even found charging points (yes please!). Four hours later, we were in France and ready to roll.

We drove for just over two hours to Ouistreham and arrived at our stunning base for the week - a dreamy five-bedroom house just 50 metres from the beach.

Honestly, it had everything: beach towels, kitchen gear, baby bits, even postcards. We grabbed supplies from the local Auchan and had the perfect first night in the garden with local meats, pâtés, wine, beer and brilliant company.

Day 2

Emotion, history and giant silhouettes

We kicked things off with a visit to Radar 44 - a key German radar station during the war. It’s eerily quiet now, but you can feel the tension in the air.

Then came the bit that really got me: the Standing With Giants installation at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer. Hundreds of life-size silhouettes stood in silence, each one a tribute to a life lost. The personal messages broke me.

“Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away.”

“For our today, you gave your tomorrow.”

I read story after story - from brave drivers landing on Gold Beach under fire, to teenagers working underground relaying messages through chaos. Raw, powerful, unforgettable.

Our lunch in Arromanches was well-earned - I had Camembert, mussels and chips (when in Normandy, right?). Some of the gang visited the 360° cinema. I took a wander. This seaside town is beautiful - peaceful and proud.

Later, we visited Juno Beach, where we paid our respects to Bill Dunn. A D-Day tank driver who came ashore in Charlie 1. His ashes were scattered here beside the very tank he drove. What a moment.

Day 3

VR, paratroopers and goosebumps

The D-Day Omaha Museum was full of emotion and personal touches. Everyday items, letters, photos - it’s the small things that hit hardest. One photo of Auschwitz stopped me in my tracks and brought memories of our trip to Krakow rushing back. The connection was real.

The VR experience was next-level. You’re in the planes, landing craft, on the beach. Gunfire, shouting, engines - utterly immersive and intense.

Then to Azeville Battery for a paratrooper drop from a Dakota. We stood in awe. Four passes, 52 jumpers. Re-enactors in camp, bunkers to explore. It felt like stepping into 1944.

We ended the day at Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach. Still-standing bunkers, cratered cliffs, and powerful silence. The Steel Wings sculpture moved us all. We also spotted a small plaque to Operation Aquatint - a quiet, courageous mission worth remembering.

Day 4

Utah Beach and stories that stay with you

We started at Dead Man’s Corner - a name that gives you chills. The museum and the stories inside were deeply personal and powerful. Major Dick Winters, Captain Benjamin Wax, Harold Knopp and his lucky penknife. These names stay with you.

Lunch in the pretty village of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont was a peaceful pause.

Then onto the French Resistance Monument - one of my favourite stops. It honours those who fought in secret, in silence. The emotion there is hard to describe.

At Utah Beach, we collected sand for memory bottles and watched four C-130s soar overhead. The timing was perfect. A goosebump moment.

Day 5

Sword Beach, pipes and people

6th June - D-Day. The big day. And what a day it was.

We were up early for the dawn ceremony at Sword Beach beside the Bill Millin statue. Flares lit the sea like it was 1944. I had a lump in my throat the whole time.

Ceremonies, medal presentations, a stop at Hermanville War Cemetery - it was all beautifully done. Quietly powerful.

We then moved on to Pegasus Bridge, where the stories just kept coming. Cyril Tasker, who milked cows for fresh milk for his unit - that one got me. A military choir sang and the whole place felt sacred.

Later, another tribute at the Bill Millin statue - this time for Commando John Collins. His son’s speech was so moving. Just as we paused, four C-130s flew overhead. Perfect timing.

We ended the day dancing at the Liberation Ball and enjoying live music from the fabulous Satin Dollz at Lion-sur-Mer. What a mix of emotion and joy.

Day 6

Quiet moments and big smiles

We started at Monty’s statue - a gentle, delayed ceremony to remember the great Field Marshal Montgomery. Small, respectful, and worth the wait.

Then the Grand Bunker Museum in Ouistreham. Six floors of German defence history - sobering and fascinating.

The afternoon brought a parade of vintage vehicles and pipe bands - colour, sound and community. We also visited tributes to Alexandre Lofi, Kieffer, Lord Lovat and more. Each story added another layer to our understanding.

And yes, more dancing! This time at a local Liberation Dance before heading back to the Swing Festival for another Satin Dollz performance. Laughter, music and gratitude.

Day 7

Final drops and farewells

Some of us went to Bayeux. The rest of us explored Merville Battery and witnessed more paratrooper drops. Watching those chutes open above Ranville was breathtaking.

We stopped at memorials, visited Merville British Cemetery and toasted our final evening at Pegasus Bridge with a local cider in the Gondrée Café.

The day ended with a champagne beach sunset. A perfect close to a very emotional week.

Day 8

Hill 112 and heading home

Our last stop: Hill 112. A place close to the heart of many in our group. It’s where British veteran Albert Figg fought, returned, and campaigned to have a memorial created. Now it’s there, and it’s beautiful.

We took a quiet moment before driving to Dieppe for a quick lunch and our ferry home. Calm sea, smooth crossing, and two hours later - back on UK soil.