One of the few surviving Jersey men who fought on D Day will be at the opening of a new exhibition at Jersey War Tunnels tomorrow.
99 year-old Billy Reynolds’ personal account of the Normandy campaign to liberate France forms part of the display which honours those who fought and died for King and country.
The experiences of local men Leonard Samson, Clive Kemp, Thomas Dowling and Harry Fenn who all served and survived D Day are also re-told in the exhibition.
The D-Day memorial exhibition includes a roll of honour board with the names of those servicemen from Jersey who fell on D-Day and during the battle of Normandy and also features iconic artefacts from what was the largest seaborne military invasion in history, one which helped turn the tide of World War II.
These important pieces of wartime history include uniforms, helmets and even a bicycle, artefacts belonging to Jersey War Tunnels and some on loan to the Tunnels from D-Day collector Simon Livesey.
Families from those brave individuals who were involved in this campaign will be invited to the launch on Wednesday 31st August together with local historian Ian Ronayne and author and journalist Chris Stone.
Commenting on the new exhibition Jersey War Tunnels Chief Operating Officer, Joe Carnegie (pictured) said, “We’re delighted to welcome Mr Reynolds to the opening of this fascinating exhibition together with the families of Leonard Samson, Clive Kemp, Thomas Dowling and Harry Fenn.
“These personal accounts from islanders who were there, together with these iconic objects help us bring to life what happened on D Day, a day we must never forget!”
