D-Day: The Last Voices brings together a rich collection of historical audio testimonies recorded with those who fought in the invasion of Normandy, alongside extraordinary new interviews with the last surviving veterans, to tell their story of D-Day as it unfolded.
Presented by Paddy O’Connell, each programme charts a distinct chapter of the complex, visceral and moving story of the invasion, from subterfuge and secret planning, to the approach of H-Hour, the landings by air and sea, and on into the battles beyond the beaches.
Commissioned as a collaboration with D-Day: The Unheard Tapes for BBC Two, and drawing on the same longitudinal access and research, the series tells the story of D-Day through the last voices of those who lived it, leading us through their personal experiences of the invasion. Supported by the historical recordings of those who were there with them – this is their story, told in their own words.
As the landings begin on all five beaches, the first waves of men approach the shores of Normandy in landing craft. For many of the young soldiers on both sides, this is the first time they have seen action, and the closer the shore comes, the more excitement is replaced with terror.
At Omaha, the American landing craft are carried off course by strong currents. Worse still they discover that the pre-invasion naval bombardment has largely missed the German bunkers. Men see their friends gunned down before they even step foot on the shore. British Commandos peddle bicycles from Sword beach to act as reinforcements, and tank commanders describe scenes of untold terror on the beaches as they try to cross the sand.
Finally, movement off the beaches seems possible, but as the Allied Forces move off the beaches and into the Normandy countryside, danger lurks at every turn.
Featuring: Don Duffield-Abdy Bernard Morgan Joe Cattini Jim Glennie Geoffrey Weaving Ted Batley Ray Nance William Dunn James Kelly Stanley Scott Ray Nance James Sink Warwick Nield-Siddall John Clegg Bill Millin
Written and presented by Paddy O’Connell
Produced by Paul Kobrak Technical production by Richard Courtice Sound design by Roy Noy, Tom Chilcot, Alex Short, Adam Palmer, Paul Donovan Music composed by Sam Hooper
Production Executive – Anne-Marie Byrne
Archive Assistant Producer – Hannah Mirsky
Archive: Fremantle, BBC News, Paddy O’Connell, made in partnership with Imperial War Museums.
Executive Producers - Morgana Pugh and Rami Tzabar
A Wall to Wall Media production for BBC Radio 4