Kirkcaldy D-Day 80th anniversary

Veterans gather at Kirkcaldy War Memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Transcript

00:00Thank you for being here for what is.

00:29In most people's mind a very important occasion.

00:34After the start of World War II and for four long years, much of Europe had been under

00:41a terrible shadow.

00:44Free nations had fallen and many cried out in the concentration camps, millions cried

00:52out for liberation.

00:55Europe was enslaved and the world prayed for its rescue.

01:03On the morning of the 6th of June, 80 years ago, in Normandy, the rescue began.

01:11Over 14,000 air sorties were flown with the insertion of 24,000 plus airborne personnel.

01:23By the end of one day, or by the end of day one, yes, D-Day itself, 130,000 personnel

01:32were ashore from 13 allied nations and that is always worthy of note.

01:42It could never have been achieved.

01:44This wasn't just Great Britain that took this on, it could never have been done without

01:52all of the allies, bar none.