'We spent the day bombarding targets': Veteran recalls D-Day as his name is added to memorial wall

Despite being 99 years old, John Roberts has no problem recollecting the events of 6 June 1944.

D-Day saw 160,000 Allied troops cross the Channel to begin the liberation of Europe from the Nazis.

"The army got ashore relatively easily to begin with, and it was an hour or two before the Germans really woke up," he said.

"We spent the day bombarding targets which were given to us by an army officer on shore. We actually fired, in the first half, 150 rounds of our 4.7in guns. And for a 20-year-old, it was exciting."

John served in the Royal Navy, his ship was at the front of the D-Day convoy.

He's one of 13 veterans, including fellow Briton Stan Ford, whose names have been added to the Normandy Memorial Wall in Portsmouth, a project at the D-Day Story museum which commemorates those who took part in the invasion.

The new names come from 12 Allied countries, including the Netherlands, New Zealand and the US, to mark 100 days until the 80th anniversary of the start of the invasion that ultimately ended World War Two in Europe.

Decked in medals, including the legion d'honneur - the highest French order of merit, John is passionate about making sure people remember the sacrifices of those who died in the war.

He recently starred as an extra in Michael Caine's final movie, The Great Escaper, where he played the part of a former soldier.

The film tells the true story of an elderly Royal Navy veteran who snuck away from his care home to attend the 70th D-Day celebrations in Normandy.

"I went up to Michael (Caine) where he was having his lunch and said, 'Michael, you and I have something in common'.

"He growled and said, 'What's that?' I said 'We were both in the Korean War'. He smiled, it was nice to know that he was a real soldier once."

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The sacrifices made by soldiers during World War Two will be honoured in Portsmouth on 5 and 6 June, as it's been revealed the city will host the UK's national commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer said: "We will forever owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans and the allied forces who fought so courageously at Normandy.

"On the 80th anniversary, we will remember all those who put their life on the line for our freedom during D-Day, and continue to pay tribute to their brave service to this day."

This may be the last time veterans are able to gather in significant numbers, as they are all over 90 years old. But 'Operation Overlord' is certainly not a distant memory for John Roberts.

"The fact that 10,000 were lost on D-Day is not quite so significant for you, but I think all the relations of people who were lost deserve to have their relations remembered," he said.