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Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: D-Day The Normandy Landings
Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: D-Day The Normandy Landings
Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: D-Day The Normandy Landings
Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: D-Day The Normandy Landings

Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: D-Day The Normandy Landings

Associated (Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)
Medallist
DateMay 2004
Object NameMedal
MediumSterling Silver
ClassificationsMedals
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS072500.99
About MeIn 6th June, 1944, four years after the British Expeditionary Force had been driven from the Continent of Europe by the advancing Germans, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force gave transport and support to the most important combined operation in which the British Army had ever taken part. Hitler's 'Fortress Europe' was to be stormed, preliminary to an advance through France and the Netherlands to the heart of Germany, by an Anglo-American force under the supreme command of General Eisenhower.

A lodgment was made and quickly extended, the vast problem of building up
reinforcements and supplies being met by the provision of prefabricated artificial harbours. These were towed across the Channel and placed in position on the Normandy coast. A breakwater was also made by sinking a number of obsolete ships, which could then serve as jetties, their grounded condition giving shelter to vessels unloading.

The naval side of Operation 'Neptune,' the name by which it was known, was in the charge of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, who had achieved so much in getting away many thousands of troops at the time of the French collapse. Some 7,000 vessels of all types were involved, including 1,200 men-of-war ranging from battleships to midget submarines. Over 4,000 landing ships and craft were required to put the soldiers ashore, and a further 1,500 auxiliaries and merchant ships were needed to sustain them there.

The whole giant sortie was a masterpiece of planning, ingenuity, and Allied cooperation.
The crown of the achievement was that tactical surprise was gained. The elaborate ruse of maintaining a force apparently ready to assault the Pasde Calais deceived the enemy for a considerable time and helped to seal the success of the invasion.


The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.

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