Photo Report Standing with Giants British Normandy Memorial

The British Normandy Memorial inaugurated on June 6, 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day, can be found just outside the village of Ver-sur-Mer. From this spot one overlooks Gold Beach, one of the two beaches where British troops landed on June 6, 1944 (D-Day). On the columns of the memorial are listed the names of 22,442 British- and British-commissioned soldiers who fell in Normandy between June 6 and August 31, 1944.

The memorial which covers a total area of 18 ha is a place for remembrance and reflection. Here current- and future-generations can understand the magnitude of what happened in Normandy in 1944, and the role of the United Kingdom in securing the freedom of Europe.

Standing with Giants
Several years ago, “Standing With Giants,” an Oxfordshire-based volunteer organization decided to create 1,475 silhouettes in honor of the 80th commemoration of D-day and place them at the monument. The number of 1,475 symbolizes the number of British servicemen and servicemen under British command who fell on June 6, 1944.⁠

The eight different silhouettes made of black metal represent soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors, among others. They are arranged on the sloping section towards the beach and across the full width of the memorial, creating a massive and impressive sight.

Installation of the Giants took about two weeks starting in mid April, and they can be seen until Aug. 31, 2024.