Cliff Dalton, 98, who is one of the UK's last surviving Normandy veterans, tells his story.
On 6 June 1944, Allied forces landed on the beaches of northern France, marking the beginning of the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. Ahead of the 80th anniversary, BBC News went along to visit Cliff Dalton - one of the last survivors of the Normandy landings.
Mr Dalton was training in Southend, Essex, when the first waves - including men from his home city of Hull who served with the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment - stormed the beaches. Arriving in Normandy, he recalls the Mulberry harbours - floating artificial harbours designed and constructed by British military engineers.
Mr Dalton, along with others, deployed as reinforcements following D-Day. Immediately after landing, they marched four miles inland to a camp, where he found his unit, 318 Company. His company pushed through France, Belgium, Holland and eventually Germany, where an image he treasures was taken.
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