Cruise ship chartered to take Normandy veterans to D-Day events

If you get chance this evening then make sure you tune in to The One Show on BBC 1 at 7pm. Dan Snow is joining D-Day Veterans live on board Fred Olsen’s Boudicca as they sail across the Channel en route to Normandy on a voyage of remembrance to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.

The ship has been chartered and is carrying over 300 veterans along with their companions and carers. The seven night voyage departed from Dover on Sunday last, ahead of a week of events to mark the anniversary of the biggest amphibious invasion in history.

Rod Stewart will be on board to entertain the veterans, and the ship will be calling at Dunkirk, Poole, Portsmouth and Le Havre where events will be staged.

In recognition of the bravery, sacrifice and achievement of these men, the veterans are sailing free of charge thanks to a Government grant.

The veterans will have the opportunity to visit the beaches in Dunkirk, which I imagine will be an extremely emotional time for them and then the Royal navy will stage a display in Poole Harbour.

Today they will attend a National Commemorative Event in Portsmouth before setting sail for Normandy which is when we will catch up with them on The One Show this evening. They will be escorted down the Solent by a Royal Navy frigate as they set sail. Once in Normandy they will attend events in Bayeux and Arromanches.

What a truly amazing trip for these wonderfully brave people, one that many of them ever expected to make. Many on board have never been back to Normandy since their time during the war and as one said, he is hoping to catch up with old friends although there are not so many of them left these days.

This is all set to be an amazing experience to these people to whom we owe an enormous debt of gratitude. Their sacrifices and bravery allow us to enjoy a life of peace, democracy and diversity which we might never have done had it not been for them.

I shall certainly be tuning in tonight and hope you will be too! BBC 1 – 7pm. Don’t miss it!