May to read out letter in D-Day soldier’s pocket

WHEN Norman Skinner landed on Sword Beach 75 years ago, he carried in his pocket a letter for his wife Gladys and their daughters, a reminder of home and the cause for which he was risking his life.

Capt Skinner, 38, of the Royal Army Service Corps, never made it back – killed the next day by a direct hit on his foxhole. But on Wednesday, his words will ring out across Southsea Common in Portsmouth to an audience that will include leaders of the countries that came together on D-Day.

Theresa May will read Capt Skinner’s letter during an hour-long performance telling the story of that day and featuring testimony from surviving veterans of the Normandy landings.

In his letter, the former insurance worker from Hillingdon, west London, tells his wife: “My thoughts at this moment, in this lovely Saturday afternoon, are with you all now.

“I can imagine you in the garden having tea with Janey and Anne getting ready to put them to bed.

“Although I would give anything to be back with you, I have not yet had any wish at all to back down from the job we have to do.”

His moving words will be heard by the largest gathering of world leaders to be hosted by the UK outside a formal summit since the 2012 London Olympics.

The event will feature theatrical performances and live music, culminating in a flypast of 24 new and historic aircraft, including the Red Arrows and a Spitfire.

After the display, the leaders will join veterans at a reception to pay their respects.

That evening the 300 veterans – all aged over 90 – will leave Portsmouth on the MV Boudicca, a specially-commissioned ship chartered by the Royal British Legion and escorted by HMS St Albans, to retrace the journey they made on June 6 1944.

Capt Skinner never lived to see victory over Hitler, but his letter expressed the hopes of many of those who poured on to the D-Day beaches in the face of bullets and shells.

“I shall always be grateful to the powers above for having been able to be with you, to have been loved by you,” he tells Gladys.

“I’m sure I will be with you again soon and for good. Give my fondest love to my Anne and my Janey.”