Veterans make crossing from Portsmouth to France

D-Day veterans have departed the UK for France to join commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

About 25 former servicemen are making the ferry crossing from Portsmouth.

Well-wishers are lining the route to watch the spectacle, which is likely to be the last time veterans will make the journey to France.

The group is taking a commemorative torch from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that will feature prominently at a vigil in Bayeux on Wednesday.

Brittany Ferries’ Mont St Michel was accompanied by a flotilla of vintage and serving warships, including World War Two-era motor gunboat 81, motor launch HMS Medusa and RAF rescue boat HSL 102.

Royal Navy patrol boats HMS Trumpeter and HMS Dasher followed behind, along with sea cadet training vessel TS Royalist and minehunter HMS Cattistock.

Harbour tugs shot jets of water in tribute and bagpipers played on the stern of the ferry as the veterans departed.

There was also the simultaneous sounding of sirens from other craft nearby.

The veterans onboard were seen smiling and waving to people on other vessels as they left Portsmouth Harbour.

Mark Atkinson, the Royal British Legion’s director general, said it was a “momentous occasion”.

He added: “The veterans are remarkably sprightly, they’re up and about and engaged.

“There were a lot of mixed emotions as you’d imagine but a lot of people are really excited to be going back.

“It’s an opportunity for them to pay their respects and remember the fallen.”

An MoD spokesman said a wreath-laying ceremony will take place on the ferry later “to remember those who never made it to shore”.

On Monday, about 40 veterans met at the headquarters where D-Day was planned – Southwick House, near Portsmouth.