1. Merville Battery; the site of one of the most dramatic airborne operations of D Day, and the following day by commandos led by a Gunner hero Major John Pooley who fell in the assault.  We will also look at the story from the German side. These ordinary German soldiers occupied merville battery from D Day until they withdrew with their horse drawn guns in the middle of August. Your entry fee is included. .
2. Breville Churchyard.the ruined church at Breville is the legacy of a dramatic battle, where a devastating barrage on friend and foe alike broke the will of the Germans to attack the beachhead. You will hear the story of the gunners who fought and died there.
3. Pegasus bridge was the first place captured on D Day. You will hear the story of the fight to the bridge, its air defences and the story of how the gunners foiled German efforts to destroy the bidge. Your entrance to the Pegasus Bridge Museum is included..

Picnic lunch at Pegasus Bridge.(included)

After lunch you will visit:-

• Ranville Cemetery the resting place of many gunners including the poet Major John Jarmain and brigadier Denis Sanders, one of two gunner generals killed in action in Normandy.  
• Sword beach, where you will hear about the fortunes of the forward observers, naval bombardment teams and Centaur tanks.
• Juno beach, where you will see the emplacements still scarred by the D day bombardment and why the german defences were so formidable.  You will hear the story of the Gunners awarded the George Medal on D Day for their courage, and of the Canadian artillerys. You will even find the spot where James Doohan - Star Trek's  “Scotty” was wounded. .

6 pm return to your hotel. In the evening you can explore Caen or talk to your guide. 

Dinner tonight is not included, and you are free to eat in the modern hotel bistro or Caen whichn has a great choice of authentic French bistros and restuarants for dinner.

9.00 am – After breakfast depart the hotel for a short drive to the D-Day beaches.  

During the morning you will visit: 

• King sector of Gold beach where you will see where the  artillery of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry landed and hear the story of their D Day battles.

• The places where Stanley Hollis fought his action for which he was awarded the VC, and hear about the role of the Gunners   

• Jig sector of Gold Beach you can follow the story of the Essex Yeomanry, and the story of Sgt Palmer  who is still commemorated at le Hamel.  Inland you will see where the artillery broke up the German counter attacks on D-Day.

• Arromanches where you can hear about and see the remains of the air defences of Mulberry Harbour as well as visit the landing museum.

There  will be a time to stroll around this charming resort and buy lunch.

After lunch you will conmtinue your visit.

• At Omaha beach, you c an explore the German defences and visit the US Cemetery.

• You will see the British graves at St Laurent cemetery and here the story of a British Band of Brothers and the Gunner's own 'James Bond,' the poet and novelist Augustus March Phillipps 

Dinner tonight is not included, and you are free to eat in the modern hotel bistro or Caen whichn has a great choice of authentic French bistros and restuarants for dinne

Sunday  9th July 2017: Return to the UK 

Return to the UK

Accommodation.

Our tour is based in the historic city of Caen 

Evening Talks

Although our tour will be focused on the human story, we will offer optional evening leatures on artillery equipment and tactics and happy to talk about Monty's “colossal cracks” versus “wonder weapons and aufragstactik. We will introduce you to German artillery methods and why the German artillery became more effective even as they were losing the battle for Normandy...

Food and Drink

Normandy is justifiably famous for its cuisine based on local produce, including sea food, dairy produces and apples.  There are plenty of opportunities to sample local food and drink.