D-Day: The Last Voices: Beyond the Beaches

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 Allied soldiers begin their missions inland from the beaches, their missions become focused on taking strategic targets in the villages and towns, on the way to Caen and Cherbourg.

The battle becomes one of hedgerow fighting, in what will become known as ‘the bocage’. Back-up comes from the air for the Allies as the most widespread frontline carpet bomb drop in history takes place. French villages are reduced to rubble. With mounting civilian casualties, dreams of liberation are turning sour for the French.

The men of British Airborne who took Pegasus Bridge under the command of Major John Howard are met by the Commandos of the First Special Service Brigade. Work begins on the beaches to build temporary ports. Paddy O’Connell discovers, through the interviews of the last surviving veterans of D-Day and those who fought with them, in historical recordings, that the men who had successfully landed on D-Day could still fail. All still faced the possibility of perishing, despite the historic scale of the invasion.

Featuring: Gordon Prime Mark Packer Geoffrey Weaving Bill Gladden Michel Deserable John Clegg Nat Hoskot Ivan Lambert Bill Millin Wally Parr John Howard Stanley Scott Warwick Nield-Siddall James Kelly Eddie Edwards Roy Crane

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: BBC News, The D-Day Story Portsmouth, 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