PORTSMOUTH, U.K. — On June 5, 1944, an armada of over 1213 warships set out to escort 4126 landing craft and 864 merchant ships across the storm-tossed waters of the English Channel in the largest ever amphibious landing in history.
Crammed aboard the landing craft heading for Normandy were over 132,000 troops from the Allied nations, primarily from Britain, Canada and the U.S. although troops from at least ten other nations were also involved. Seventy-five years later the event was commemorated at Portsmouth, Britain’s principal naval base on the south coast and starting-off point for many of those troops. Guests of honor included Queen Elizabeth II, President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, French President Emmanuel Macron and heads of many other European countries.
The group was joined by 300 D-Day veterans, all of whom were over ninety. Warships from NATO countries gathered in and around Portsmouth and witnessed the departure of the cruise liner Boudicca that took veterans to Normandy for commemoration services to be held there the following day.
The following are photos from the fleet review.
Royal Air Force Red Arrows display team. Ralph Edwards Photo used with PermissionSupermarine Spitfire & Hawker Hurricane leading the fly-past. Ralph Edwards Photo used with PermissionVeterans sheltering on the aft deck of Boudicca heading for France. Ralph Edwards PhotoRoyal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate St. Johns leaving Portsmouth, U.K. Ralph Edwards photo used with permissionHMS St. Albans leaving Portsmouth for France. Ralph Edwards PhotoBoudicca carrying veterans leads HMS St. Albans and HMCS St. Johns out of Portsmouth heading for France. Ralph Edward Photo used with permissionBoudicca carrying veterans leads HMS St. Albans and HMCS St. Johns out of Portsmouth heading for France. Ralph Edward Photo used with permissionRoyal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS St. Albans fires gun salute as it passes dignitaries. Ralph Edwards PhotoU.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle moored at Spithead. Ralph Edwards PhotoTwo of the six P2000 patrol boats that participated. HM ships Biter and Pursuer. Ralph Edwards PhotoRoyal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland leaving Spithead. Ralph Edwards PhotoReplenishment ship A387 Fort Victoria moored in Spithead. Ralph Edwards PhotoThe German Bremen class frigate F213 Augsburg did not participate in the formations and remained in Portsmouth. Ralph Edwards PhotoPatrol boats P270 Biter, P291 Puncher, P273 Pursuer and P164 Explorer returning to Portsmouth Naval Base, U.K. Ralph Edwards Photo
Ralph Edwards is a photo-journalist based in Rochford, Essex, England. He has been active since 1995 in covering naval events on behalf of international media. His work has taken him to over forty countries around the world.
