Operation OVERLORD, the invasion of Normandy on 6th June 1944, was the greatest amphibious operation of all time – heralding the final battles in NW Europe and the German defeat in May 1945. D-Day was, of course, just one single day in a much longer campaign, but arguably the most crucial of all. Had the landings failed that day, the course of the war would have been very different.

Accompanied by Colonel Peter Knox, we examine the planning and execution of this vast and complex inter-service and multinational operation. We begin our tour at Southwick House, near Portsmouth – General Eisenhower's HQ at the time of D-Day. We then follow the route of the great amphibious armada by taking the ferry to Normandy. The next day we visit Merville Battery and Pegasus Bridge, where airborne coup de main operations took place on the night of 5th/6th June 1944. We explore the British, Canadian and US beaches, and Sainte-Mère-Église where US paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions dropped in the early hours of 6th June. We visit Arromanches, with its excellent museums – and the remains of the great Mulberry Harbour still clearly visible offshore.

During this tour, we will follow the course of the D-Day battle in detail – both the early successes and the setbacks. Nor do we overlook the many strands to this great narrative: the deception plans; the support of naval and air forces; the vast logistic operation – the largest ever of its kind. And, of course, we will remember the great losses suffered by friend and foe alike during this fierce battle – by visiting some of the cemeteries and memorials that stand witness to D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Saturday): Depart Victoria Coach Station, London 0900. Visit Southwick House (Gen Eisenhower's HQ), above Portsmouth. Lunch break followed by ferry crossing, departing Portsmouth 1445. Group dinner on board. Arrive Caen, 2130. Check into our hotel on the waterfront (4 nights).
Day 2: British Airborne operations: Gliders and the Ox and Bucks at Pegasus Bridge on the Caen Canal. The 9th Parachute battalion capture the Merville Battery. Ranville CWGC cemetery. Lunch break in Ouistreham. The British and French at Sword beach and the Canadians at Juno beach. British 50th division at Gold beach. Own dinner arrangements.
Day 3: US 82nd Airborne division Sainte-Mère-Église. US 4th division amphibious landings on Utah Beach. Heavy German resistance and high casualties of the US 1st division on Omaha Beach. Lunch break in Grandcamp Maisy. The beautiful American cemetery on the cliffs above Omaha at St Laurent. The US Rangers scale the cliffs of Point du Hoc. Dinner in hotel.
Day 4: The Batterie des Longues. Panoramic view of the coast and remains of the Mulberrry harbour from the cliffs above Arromanches. The 360º Museum. Lunch break in Arromanches. The Bayeux CWGC cemetery; group commemoration. Free time in Bayeux. Farewell dinner.
Day 5: Caen-Portsmouth ferry dep. 0830. Own lunch on board. Visit D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery, Southsea. Return to Victoria Coach Station by 2030.