A ‘waste of life’ but the most important invasion in history

D-Day was a “waste of life” which left bodies littered on the beaches of Normandy, but was also one of the most important invasions in history, a veteran of the campaign has said.

In an effort to free Europe from the clutches of the Nazis, 156,000 British, American and Canadian troops launched from the sea and air on to French soil. Known as one of the most successful military operations in history, around 4,400 troops paid the ultimate price during the vast undertaking of D-Day in 1944.

Don Sheppard arrived on Juno beach at around 4.30pm on June 6 in a landing ship tank, with his scout car that had a Bren gun attached plunging into water as it entered a deep rut.

Looking back on the D-Day landings almost 75 years later, the 99-year-old Royal Engineers sapper said: “I think it was a waste of life.

“I know we had to defend ourselves... but young guys like me aged 20, 21 never lasted five minutes – some of them got killed before they got off the boat.

“Tragic, absolutely.” However, he added: “D-Day was one of the most important invasions, if you would like to call it that, of history – that is why it is so important. In my opinion anyway.”

Describing the stretch of sand before him, he said the beach was “littered with dead Canadians” who had landed ahead of his brigade, adding that the experience “was horrible”.

By the time he arrived at Juno, Mr Sheppard – a dispatch rider – said the Germans had “really got the distance and shells were coming over like rain”, with battleships also firing over their heads.

“We lost quite a few guys,” he said. “We (the survivors) were lucky really.”

Mr Sheppard, who lives in Basildon, Essex, had previously served in North Africa and Sicily.

After breaking through Nazi lines in August 1944, Mr Sheppard and comrades continued through to Belgium, Holland and eventually Germany – including to the BergenBelsen concentration camp.

Picture: PA. Don Sheppard, 99.