WWII Veterans return to Normandy

Descriptor: First we see archive video footage of D-Day, images of which are courtesy of The Imperial War Museum.

Narrator: Operation D-Day was the biggest invasion in history and a key date in the story of the Second World War. To coincide with the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings, money raised through the sale of National Lottery games has enabled veterans to travel back to Normandy in northern France, where they saw action.

Descriptor: We now pull out from a black and white photo of John White sitting amongst his unit, the image is courtesy of The Commando Veterans Association. We then see a black and white photo of many soldiers standing on boats, before we see a current shot of John and his wife Violet, walking with another veteran.

Narrator: John White was a sergeant in no.3 commando. Partly thanks to funding awarded from the National Lottery's heroes return to programme, John and his wife were able to revisit the beaches in June 2009.

Descriptor: We now see a wide shot of people standing on the beach at Normandy, before we see a side view of John, holding a gun, with a flag on the end. We then meet John White, who is standing on the beach at Normandy.

John White: We lost a lot of people in the campaign here. You get very emotional, eugh, get angry.

Descriptor: We now see a low shot of a line of veterans standing with flags, before meeting Violet White, who is standing on the beach. As she speaks we see various shots of veterans and family members.

Violet White: That's what it's all about, remembering their mates, their buddies, you know, their comrades and I suppose when they see all this, all the sound and everything sort of comes back to them, in their minds. And, ah, yeah, there'll be a few tears shed.

Descriptor: We now see various shots of the veterans and their family and friends chatting.

Narrator: The awards made possible from the proceeds of National Lottery games has meant veterans, their spouses, widows and carers have been able to mark overseas anniversaries, pay their respects and return to the places they served in during the Second World War.

Descriptor: We now see John and Violet White talking to a man in a pale jacket, before once again meeting Violet on the beach. We then see John standing in amongst other veterans, all with green berets on, talking.

Violet White: I don't think we'd have come back this time if it hadn't been for the Lottery grant and all his mates were saying, "Oh, are we going? Are you going to organise a coach John?" And that really is one of the reasons we came this time.

Descriptor: We now pull out from a black and white photo of Freddie Walker standing in amongst other soldiers; the image is courtesy of The Commando Veterans Association. We then see Freddie and John meeting once again and shaking hands.

Narrator: Freddie Walker served in John's platoon and 65 years on, money raised through the sale of National Lottery games enabled them to return together to Pegasus bridge.

Descriptor: We now see a wide shot of the Pegasus Bridge, before meeting Freddie Walker, who was a Trooper in 4 Troop No.3 Commando, standing with the bridge in the background to his right.

Freddie Walker: They was in trouble here a little bit, they was outnumbered actually, but we did relieve the paras, lost a few men crossing the bridge, but, ah, and we went across that bridge and, and, and we run across that bridge a bit lively.

Descriptor: We now see a low shot of gravestones in the cemetery at Bayeux, before focusing in on Thomas Clark in his wheelchair, beside one of the gravestones. We then see a side shot of Thomas and his family looking at gravestones.

Narrator: National Lottery funding has also enabled families like the Clarks to travel with the veterans to Normandy, to learn about the sacrifices they made.

Descriptor: We now meet Thomas Clark, Troop Sergeant Major in the Troop 48 Royal Marine Commandos, who is sitting on a bench with his daughter and grandsons. As he speaks, we see a shot of some wild flowers, with gravestones behind, and another shot of Thomas and his family looking at a grave.

Thomas Clark: There was no bravery about it, um, it was just another job. The fact that half of us were knocked out on the first day was not anticipated at all.

Descriptor: We now meet Emma Clark, Thomas' daughter, who is sitting beside her father on a bench.

Emma Clark: There's not that many veterans left, but it's really important I think that, you know, the, the next generations understand, um, what it is that, that dad or grandpa did.

Descriptor: We now see a wide shot of Thomas and his grandson Jack in the cemetery, before meeting Jack, who is sitting beside his brother and grandfather on a bench.

Jack Clark: He is a special man. You, you have to be pleased to have a, a, especially a granddad who's still alive who was fighting on the beaches on D-Day.

Descriptor: We now see a rear view of Bill Warrington walking slowly through the gravestones in the cemetery. We then see black and white photos of the troops landing on Sword Beach, the image being provided courtesy of Pen and Sword Books.

Narrator: Bill Warrington landed on sword beach on the 6th of June 1944. For him, returning to Normandy forms part of an annual pilgrimage to the cemetery at Bayeux.

Descriptor: As we hear Bill Warrington, who was a Duck Driver, speak, we see him point to a gravestone, before the camera pans up to his face. As he continues to speak, we see shots of the gravestone and a poppy on a cross which has been placed at the base of it, before a final shot of Bill walking away through the gravestones.

Bill Warrington: Tomblin, a friend at Barnet School, was killed on the 25th of June, the Lincolnshire Regiment, aged twenty four. I remember him at school well, and I come every year and put a cross there and leave it.

Descriptor: We now see a wide shot over a French village, before we see many veterans and family members taking part in a remembrance event.

Narrator: Many commemorative events took place across Normandy to mark the 65th anniversary. For Freddie, it was a great honour to be asked to open part of a museum at Merville.

Descriptor: We once again meet Freddie Walker, who talks emotionally about the event.

Freddie Walker: I was very pleased, they named our unit and for, not for me, for the boys, you know. Anyway, ahh, see it gets you, it does get you, you know. But anyway, um, for the boys who never made it.

Descriptor: As Bill speaks, we now see a wide rear shot of people surrounding a war memorial, together with a shot of veterans laying a poppy wreath, before once again meeting Bill. We then see a veteran sitting in a wheelchair.

Bill Warrington: It does us good to see some of the old chaps here, some look good, some look bad, some are in wheelchairs, but they, they make an effort, they're here.

Descriptor: Once again we meet John White who is on a beach. As he speaks, we see various shots of him with the other veterans.

John White: I got emotional yesterday, I really got emotional and I told each one of them that they were the last of the few and I, I thought the world of them and I still do today. I think they're fabulous, wonderful people.

Descriptor: Once again we meet Freddie Walker, who is standing in front of the Pegasus Bridge. As he speaks, we see him shaking hands with other veterans.

Freddie Walker: They're my family, there's not many left and, um, there you are. We come every year, till we can't come any more, you know?

Descriptor: Once again we meet John White, who explains the importance of the lottery funding.

John White: If it wasn't for the lottery, there's no doubt about it, we wouldn't have been able to come.

Descriptor: We once again meet Emma Clark, sitting on a bench with her father, who also describes the importance of the Lottery support. As she speaks, we see various shots of her family moving through the cemetery, focusing in on some of the gravestones.

Emma Clark: We went through the process with, ah, with great support from the Lottery people and, ah, certainly that funding's facilitated the three generations to be here for, for this weekend.

Descriptor: We now see a low wide shot of veterans standing on a hill holding flags, before various shots of veterans and their families. We then meet Freddie for the final time.

Freddie Walker: It's the first time we've ever had anything, which is very handy and thank you for the lottery. And I do it every week and if I win the lottery, I'll still talk to you.