Normandy Beaches – Day 2
May 3, 2026
Arromanches
This morning we drove 30 minutes to the town of Arromanches-les-bains. This is where the remains of Mulberry B can be seen. Unfortunately we were there at high tide (no beach remnants) and it was foggy (no sea remnants).
Mulberry was the name given to two artificial harbours built by the British to allow rapid offloading of supplies, munitions and men into the Normandy beach head, An amazing feat of engineering. Mulberry A was used by the American forces at Omaha and Mulberry B used by the British at Arromanches.
There is a museum dedicated to these harbours ‘Musée du Débarquement’, It was fascinating to learn more about these, I had no idea how absolutely massive these ‘ports’ were.
The fog and the restrictions on photography at the museum means unfortunately there are not many photos to be shared.
Ver-sur-Mer
Leaving Arromanches we went to the British Normandy museum at Ver-sur-Mer. No photos are going to do justice to this place. It was incredibly moving to see, how well looked after it is and how respected the men and women who lost their lives are by the people of France.
In the grounds of the memorial is a temporary installation of ‘Standing with Giants’ this is an amazing display of silhouetted men. One silhouette for each of the 1475 lives lost under British command on D-Day, this aspect of the memorial was very moving, when you see each figure across the hillside it really brings it home to you.
We spent sometime just walking around the whole site, reading the descriptions and the names of the fallen. Very glad we came here and saw this before we head further around the Normandy coast.
Hermanville-sur-Mer
The village where we are staying also has a small churchyard where 1003 British, Canadian, Australian and French men are buried, of these 103 are unidentified and each of their headstones say ‘here lies the body of an unknown soldier known unto god’ Again the site is respected and well looked after.
