RIP Granddad, I hope I made you proud’: Social media users share touching D-Day stories of their WW2 fighter grandfathers who landed on Gold Beach and were shot at on Pegasus Bridge
- Do you or does your family have lasting memories of D-Day? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
Family members have shared emotional D-Day stories on their social media WW2 grandfathers who landed on Gold Beach and were injured or killed.
Eighty years ago today, June 6, 1944more than 150,000 British, Canadian and American forces landed in a combined naval, air and ground assault on Nazi-occupied areas France.
After approximately 4,440 Allied troops died that day, many family members took to social media to pay their respects to family members who served or even died on this historic day.
One grandson posted a photo of his grandfather on I think of him and also of his comrades who never returned and am always grateful to them all, and to all who fought.’
A heartbroken granddaughter wrote: ‘As I watched the D-Day commemorations and thought about my grandfather going to Caen shortly afterwards, he was shot and saw his best friend die. What a sacrifice these young men made.”
A third said: ’80 years ago today my grandfather made the anxious journey to France. First off the landing craft with his jeep. Witness to unspeakable things. Almost died. I am incredibly proud of him and grateful for the service of all those brave young soldiers who sacrificed so much.”
It comes as a lone military bagpiper played on Gold Beach this morning to mark the moment the first British troops stormed the coast of Normandy on D-Day 80 years ago.
Pipe Major Trevor Macey-Lillie played Highland Laddie as he was carried to Arromanches beach on a Royal Marines amphibious landing craft, flanked by soldiers.
Do you or does your family have lasting memories of D-Day? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
Family members have taken to social media to remember their grandfathers who landed on Gold Beach 80 years ago today
