D-Day veterans unveil CWGC sound installation at Portsmouth Navy Memorial

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is welcoming people to experience the stories of ‘the greatest generation’ as it today launches a sound installation at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Voices of Liberation gives the public a chance to immerse themselves in the stories of those who fought in some of the key battles in the Second World War, as well as the importance of CWGC’s places of remembrance in paying tribute to those who never returned.

The installation is in the form of a memorial bench and will be triggered when visitors sit down - playing the recordings of those who have shared their connections to some of the key battles of 1944, as the world marks their 75th anniversary. The sound installation will be available from the 5 June, when thousands of people will descend upon Portsmouth.

The CWGC commemorates more than 100,000 service personnel who died during 1944. Commonwealth servicemen and women are commemorated in CWGC war cemeteries and memorials across the world and today, these iconic sites of remembrance remain places of pilgrimage for veterans and descendants. The sound installation aims to pay tribute to those who gave their lives and shine a light on CWGC’s striking memorial to more than 24,000 missing naval personnel on Southsea Common.

The Sound installation will be available for the public throughout the commemorations in Portsmouth from 5 June until the 9 June.

Ron Cross, MBE, a D-Day veteran recorded his story for Voices and today unveiled the bench. Ron said: “I’m very proud that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have asked me to do this, very proud indeed. The fact that this installation is based on sound means that those, like me, who are blind, can enjoy the experience.

“I’ve been often to Ranville War Cemetery, which is beautiful, and so is Bayeux War Cemetery. Those graves are the most beautiful places that I’ve been. Sadly we had to fight that war and these chaps gave their life for our safety now.”

Ron shared his experiences of the Normandy landings ahead of the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the invasion for the Voices of Liberation project. Ron served in the 79th Armoured Division, as part of the Allied invasion force. Ron and his fellow engineers were responsible for landing tanks and clearing minefields set by the Germans before reinforcements arrived

Since 2012, Ron has been a member of Blind Veterans UK, which has offered him free and comprehensive support to live independently with sight loss. He was joined in unveiling the bench by fellow blind D-Day veteran Bob Jones.