World War Two: We Were There

Veterans tell their stories for future generations.

'I often wonder why I lived while others died'

The last surviving World War Two veterans share their memories of D-Day, VE Day and VJ Day.

Veterans' stories

Answering the call from Empire

Women at war

The Royal Navy

The Royal Air Force

D-Day

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Eighty years since D-Day

Read more stories

    1. An elderly mans looks to the right of screen. He wears a open shirt underneath a jumper.

      • A elderly man wears a black jacket, white shirt and black tie

        • An elderly man wears glasses, a black jacket and a black tie

          • An elderly man wears a dark suit jacket and a black and white striped tie

            • An elderly man with a moustache sits in a chair wearing a fleece gilet

              • An elderly man wearing a checked shirt and short-sleeve cardigan looks into the camera

                • An elderly man in a black suit looks into the camera

                  • A man with a goatee looks off to the left of screen. He wears a white checked shirt, a striped tie and a black jacket.

                    • John Morris in black and white against a stylised background with a red bar

                      • An elderly man wearing glasses and a fleece looks off to the right of screen

                        • An elderly man wears glasses and a checked shirt

                          • An elderly woman in a striped jumper and glasses looks into the distance

                            • Colin Young looks directly into the camera, wearing a British Army Beret, black suit and his military medals

                              • An elderly man, wearing square-framed glasses and a black suit, looks at the camera

                                • UK
                                The veteran didn't tell his family about his role in the Normandy landings for 70 years.

                                • An elderly man, looking at the camera, wears a black jacket with military medals on the left lapel.

                                  • An elderly man in a black-and-white striped shirt looks over his right shoulder past the camera

                                    • A black-and-white picture of an elderly man. He wears a shirt and tie, and a black jacket with several military medals pinned to it.

                                      • A bald elderly man, wearing a white t-shirt and black jacket, looks earnestly at the camera.

                                        • A black-and-white photo of an elderly man looking into the camera. He has white hair and square glasses. He is wearing a black suit and tie. The photo is laid on top of a speckled grey-ish background, with a solid red bar running down the right-side of the screen.

                                          • World War Two veteran Mary Davison-Smith looks off camera. She wears glasses, a patterned scarf and a knitted jumper.

                                            • Walter sits in a black jacket and white shirt. He wears a stripy tie and has medals on the jacket.

                                              • Hector sits looking off camera. He wears a black jumper over the top of a checked shirt.

                                              • US landing craft