Articles

GSGS 4250 Maps: Browse Digitised WW2 British Army Maps of France

Free high-resolution WW2 GSGS 4250 maps of Normandy and France online. Original British Army 1:50,000 sheets with a full index and grid reference converter.

D-Day Beaches: Guide to Visiting All 5 Normandy Landing Beaches

A guide to visiting the five D-Day beaches in Normandy — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. History of each beach, key museums and memorials, and practical tips for planning your trip.

WW2 K-Ration: What Was Inside an American Dinner Ration? [With Photos]

What was inside an American WW2 K-Ration? A detailed look at the Dinner unit with original photos — from the canned meat and biscuits to the cigarettes, chewing gum and morale packaging.

The Montgomery Club, Brussels – Inside the WW2 Soldiers' Club at the Palais d'Egmont

Discover the Montgomery Club in Brussels, a WW2 rest centre for British troops in the Palais d’Egmont, blending military history with palace grandeur.

Utah Beach, Normandy – D-Day History, Museum & Visiting Guide

Utah Beach was the westernmost D-Day landing — where strong currents carried the assault waves to the wrong beach. Explore the history of the US 4th Infantry Division's assault, the Utah Beach Museum, nearby memorials and how to visit today

Omaha Beach, Normandy – D-Day History, Key Sites & Visiting Guide

Omaha Beach saw the heaviest fighting on D-Day. Explore the history of the US landings, the Normandy American Cemetery, key sites and how to visit today.

Gold Beach, Normandy – D-Day History, Mulberry Harbour & Visiting Guide

Gold Beach was stormed by the British 50th Division on D-Day. Explore the landing history, the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches, Longues-sur-Mer battery and how to visit.

Juno Beach, Normandy – Canadian D-Day Landings, History & Visiting Guide

Juno Beach was stormed by the Canadian 3rd Division on D-Day — and they advanced further inland than any other Allied force. History, key sites and visiting tips.

Band of Brothers Real Locations: Easy Company Sites in England & Normandy

Explore the real Band of Brothers locations across England and Normandy. Visit Upottery Airfield, Aldbourne, Brécourt Manor and Carentan with side-by-side photos comparing the HBO series with how each site looks today.

Lt Meehan, Band of Brothers – The D-Day Crash That Killed Easy Company's Commander

Discover the story of Lieutenant Meehan from Band of Brothers, the crash of his C-47 that killed everyone on board, its discovery years later, and the relics now displayed in a nearby museum

Heinz Self-Heating Soup: The WW2 Cans That Fed (and Sometimes Exploded On) D-Day Troops

During WW2, Heinz produced self-heating soup cans for British troops. Issued on D-Day, soldiers nicknamed them 'self-propelled soup' — because they sometimes exploded.

141st RAC in Normandy: Churchill Crocodile Flame-Thrower Tanks on D-Day and Beyond

The 141st RAC landed Churchill Crocodile flame-thrower tanks on Gold Beach on D-Day. A day-by-day account of their actions in Normandy, June 1944, from war diary sources.

Operation Aquatint: The 1942 Commando Raid on Normandy

Aquatint: the 1942 commando raid that landed on the wrong Normandy beach. Primary source accounts, full casualty details and the memorial at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.

Braunton Burrows WW2 Training Site – Concrete Mock Landing Craft from D-Day Preparations

Concrete replicas of WW2 landing craft still survive in the dunes at Braunton Burrows, Devon — built for US troops training for D-Day. Free to visit with directions.

How a Sherman Tank Hit a Target 3 Miles Away – 24th Lancers in Normandy, 1944

In Normandy 1944, a single Sherman tank from the 24th Lancers hit a house at 5,200 yards using indirect fire — guided only by a scout car and a compass. The full story

6 Panthers Destroyed at Cheux: The 5th DCLI's First Battle in Normandy, 1944

On their first day in combat, the 5th DCLI destroyed 6 Panther tanks near Cheux using PIATs and anti-tank guns — one sergeant closing to just 10 yards with a PIAT.

British WW2 War Diaries: How to Find, Read and Convert Grid References

A practical guide to researching British WW2 war diaries. How to find records at the National Archives, convert Modified British System grid references to modern coordinates, and free Normandy map links.

Planning a Trip to the D-Day Beaches in Normandy – A Practical Guide (2026)

How to get to Normandy from the UK or Paris, where to stay near the D-Day beaches, driving tips, ferry routes and practical advice from a regular visitor.

Sword Beach: D-Day Visitor Guide – History, Sites & Tips (2026)

Everything you need to visit Sword Beach: key memorials, museums, parking and what to see today. Written from 10+ years of personal visits to Normandy.

Operation Barricade: The 1942 SSRF Commando Raid on the Cherbourg Peninsula

In August 1942, eleven men of the Small Scale Raiding Force landed on the Cherbourg Peninsula to attack a German encampment. The full account of Operation Barricade.

Best D-Day & WW2 Museums to Visit in Normandy (2026 Guide)

18 D-Day and WW2 museums in Normandy, all personally visited. From Dead Man's Corner and the Utah Beach Museum to the Caen Memorial. Honest reviews and tips.

74th D-Day Anniversary

Our visit to Normandy for the 74th Anniversary of the D-Day landings visiting the beaches, memorials and ceremonies.

Foulness Island: The Replica Atlantic Walls Built to Prepare for D-Day

In 1943 full-sized replica Atlantic Walls were built on Foulness Island, Essex to test weapons for D-Day, including Churchill AVRE 'flying dustbins'. The walls still stand today.

Sheriffmuir's Replica Atlantic Wall: The D-Day Practice Site Hidden in Scottish Moorland

A replica Atlantic Wall, Tobruk bunker and gun emplacement built on Scottish moorland near Stirling in 1943 for D-Day training. The scarred remains still stand today.

The Château d'Audrieu Massacre: 26 Canadian and British POWs Killed by the 12th SS

On 8 June 1944, 26 Canadian and British prisoners of war were executed by the 12th SS at Château d'Audrieu. The account from eyewitnesses and the memorials today.

Bude at War, A tribute to the troops of 2nd & 29th battalion US Rangers

"Bude at War" a tribute to the men of the 2nd & 29th Battalion US Rangers were billeted in the town training for D-Day and the assault on Pointe du Hoc.

Ragwen Point, Pendine: The Replica Atlantic Wall Built for D-Day Breaching Trials in Wales

In 1944 a replica Atlantic Wall was built at Ragwen Point, Pendine for D-Day breaching trials. The walls, dragon's teeth and beach defences survive today

Hankley Common's Replica Atlantic Wall: The D-Day Training Site in Surrey

A 100-metre replica Atlantic Wall built by Canadian troops in 1943 for D-Day training on Hankley Common, Surrey. Dragon's teeth and breached walls still survive.

Churchill Crocodile Flame-thrower Tank in Normandy

The Crocodile was a flame-throwing variant of the British Churchill Tank developed during WW2 with a range of over 100 meters and was highly effective weapon at clearing hedgerows and fortifications in Normandy.

My Top 10 D-Day & WWII Sites to Visit in Normandy (2026 Guide)

Explore the top 10 World War II sites in Normandy – from D-Day beaches and bunkers to famous museums and memorials. Plan your visit with insider tips and historical insights.