On 12 June 1944, Winston Churchill crossed the English Channel to visit the Normandy beachhead. Relishing danger, he had insisted on coming on D-Day itself: Nothing, he said, is more exhilarating than being shot at without result.

At first, the King George VI also wished to join the fleet on D-Day, but when persuaded of the danger of this plan, he attempted to dissuade Churchill too. The Prime Minister eventually deferred, and delayed his trip. This comprehensive and informative guide covers the Prime Ministers visit in great detail. William Jordan explores Churchills crossing on the destroyer HMS Kelvin, the party on Juno Beach and Churchills time in Courseulles-sur-Mer, the events of Churchills jolly day as he put it visiting the beaches and inland.

Many millions have followed his footsteps since, but none had so privileged a view as Churchill did that summers day. Here, in the words of those who witnessed the great mans progress, and through photographs many previously unpublished we relive the events of that day.