RMA members, serving marines, veterans and members of the local community will yomp (march) from Gold Beach, where the Plymouth-based unit landed on D-Day near Asnelles, to the Normandy fishing village – the same journey the men of 1944 made on that fateful day.

My Dad was one of them, as Captain of Heavy Weapons Troop. Pictured is Mark Packer my friend who served with him. After a chaotic landing in which 76 men were killed, wounded or missing, followed by a 12-mile yomp behind enemy lines and then spending D-Day night about two miles outside Port-en-Bessin, the remaining men of 47 Commando penetrated the outer defences on the afternoon of June 7 1944. In one action, two German flak ships in the harbour opened fire, killing eleven and wounding a further 17.

The evening of June 7 was desperate: the commandos were outnumbered and outgunned, but heroic actions saw Port-en-Bessin captured. It cost the lives of 46 men, while another 65 were wounded, 6 captured and 28 missing – a casualty rate of 35 per cent.