A D-Day veteran is starring in a campaign for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Bill Gann, 100, from Bexhill, is appearing on large digital screens in central London and Portsmouth between May 30 and June 6 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord.
The campaign by Blind Veterans UK features the portrait photographs of 14 veterans who were involved in the Normandy Landings and now receive the charity’s life-changing support.
It honours their legacy and directs people to the charity’s website to read their D-Day stories at blindveterans.org.uk/dday80. The portraits were taken by award winning photographer Richard Cannon.
The campaign will be displayed on the world’s most advanced digital screens at Outernet London, right in the heart of Soho, as well as on two of Alight Media’s digital 48-sheet screens in Portsmouth.
Bill, then aged 20, was a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps, attached to the third Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment and the 11th Armoured Division.
Upon landing, Bill witnessed the devastation on the beach, including the destruction of his regiment.
He said: “When we landed, the beach was burning. We managed to get up the beach with all our vehicles and the first sign I saw was Ouistreham, pointing upwards.
“Unfortunately, the third Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment, when they landed, got annihilated.”
As a motorcyclist, Bill navigated burning beaches and German defences. His memory of his experiences is a blur of action and survival.
He added: “There was a big German gun up on the clifftop that set light to whatever it was next to where we berthed, then on, it was just ‘chase the Germans’ sort of thing.
“We didn’t have much time for emotion. We got as far as Falaise Gap and I was flown home from there.”
Bill lost his sight due to macular degeneration and began to receive support from Blind Veterans UK in 2019.
The veterans in the campaign have also had their portrait overlaid on an image from D-Day or the Second World War that is relevant to their time in service.
Bill’s portrait is being displayed in a very special exhibition at the National Army Museum in London until June 9 alongside those of his fellow blind veterans who served in the Army on D-Day.
Alongside this, his portrait will be displayed at the new Winston Churchill Centre in Normandy, which is due to open today (June 6).
ADOT Foundation, the official charity partner of Outernet, said: “As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, it’s so important to support and honour this pivotal moment in history.
“By remembering the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for freedom, we ensure that their legacy continues to inspire future generations.
“ADOT proudly sponsors Blind Veterans UK by donating screen time at Outernet, London. ADOT hopes that by amplifying this anniversary on Outernet’s VISTA screens, it will encourage us to stand in solidarity, paying tribute to the heroes of D-Day and everything they fought to protect.”
George Rossides, Founder and CEO of OOhyes, said: “I’m delighted to have planned this campaign for Blind Veterans UK.
“D-Day is one of the key moments in our country’s collective history, so it’s important that we honour the veterans who were there.
“By displaying their portraits on London’s Outernet we can show these veterans at the size and scale they deserve on one of London’s most iconic advertising sites.
It was also important to run the campaign on Alight Media’s screens in Portsmouth, as the main departure point for units destined for Sword Beach on June 6, 1944.”
CEO of Blind Veterans UK, Adrian Bell, said: “When talking to our veterans about their experience of D-Day, many often dismiss or trivialise as unimportant the part they played. Many say that they were no more than a small cog in a huge enterprise.
“However, when we take a step back and consider the scale and ultimate success of the operation, it could not have succeeded without such commitment from so many people playing their part.
“Here at Blind Veterans UK we salute them all and are proud to be here to give them the support they need to live independent and fulfilling lives after sight loss.”
To read more about the fourteen veterans, their experiences on D-Day, and for special content such as personal photographs and diary entries from the day, and even a recipe for a war-time treat, visit blindveterans.org.uk/dday80
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, you can contact 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp.
