On the 27th August, 1944, Trooper Richard Aldred and his Cromwell crew of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards approached a crucifix just outside the Normandy village of Bournville. As they turned to the right a shell, Richard believes to have been from an 88mm gun, struck their tank and disabled it. The whole crew got out and made for a ditch as the tank brewed-up. This illustration has been created with the help of Richard and represents one of the defining moments of his war.

An officer of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry takes a break from the festivities to read a letter from home.

In the moonlight of a spring night in 1940, a soldier of 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers searches out the name of his Dad on the darkened walls of the Menin Gate.

“We went along the street past the church to the Mairie. Here my section established a defensive position on the first floor overlooking the street. Shortly afterwards, Monsieur la Mairie emerged from his shelter and joined us. So, at 10.00 am on D-Day morning, I found myself sharing a bottle of Calvados, and information concerning German dispositions, with Monsieur Lenauld, Mayor of Colleville.”

Corporal Fred Ashby, C Company, 1 Suffolk,

Colleville-sur-Orne, 6 June 1944

Trooper Alan King of the East Riding Yeomanry mounts his Sherman tank tank the beginning of another day in Normandy. This illustration forms the cover of Alan’s newly released memoirs, edited by Ben Mayne.

As dusk falls on the evening of 6th August 1944, a summer mist begins to settle on Mont Pinçon. Men of 4 WILTS along with tanks of B and C squadrons 13/18 HUSSARS pick their way up the hillside on their way to reinforce A Squadron, who had captured the summit earlier in the evening.

Alfred Briscoe and his comrades in the 151st Infantry Brigade REME enjoy a cup of tea and a chat as their landing craft makes its way to Gold Beach, 6th June 1944.

At 0730 hours on 6th June 1944 men of 1 DORSET assaulting Gold beach were amongst the first British troops to set foot on Normandy soil. Under a hail of machine gun and mortar fire they left there assault craft, waded through the sea towards the beach and began the fight to liberate Europe.

In a snatched moment of respite during the advance through Normandy a subaltern of 2 DEVONS shares a drop of found Calvados with his company commander.