The names are inscribed on stone columns manufactured from Massangis limestone, sourced from the Burgundy region.
The memorial is positioned to align with the site of the British landing at Gold Beach, which was codenamed 'King' sector.
It is the only site in France that lists every British soldier, sailor, and airman killed in Normandy during the summer of 1944.
The D-Day Sculpture group depicts three soldiers wading through the surf, representing the initial assault wave.
The memorial was originally scheduled to be inaugurated on the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019, but construction delays and the pandemic pushed the opening to June 2021.
The orientation of the memorial is designed so that the sun sets directly behind the memorial columns in the evening.
The British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer serves as the first permanent memorial commemorating all 22,442 service personnel under British command who died during the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. Inaugurated in 2021, the site occupies a clifftop position overlooking Gold Beach, one of the primary landing zones. The memorial features 170 columns of French limestone inscribed with the names of the fallen in chronological order of their deaths. At the center of the memorial stands the D-Day Sculpture, created by David Williams-Ellis. The site includes the 'Kiss of Peace' statue, a symbolic tribute to the sacrifice of those who served. The memorial is oriented toward the English Channel, maintaining a visual link to the liberation of Europe. It is the only memorial of its kind in France specifically dedicated to British forces from the 1944 campaign. The site was funded primarily by private donations and the UK government.
From the D-Day Sculpture looking out across the columns toward the English Channel.
Bring a hat and sunscreen, as the clifftop site is almost entirely exposed with very little shade.
Walk the full length of the columns to appreciate the scale of the names, as the memorial is larger than it appears from the entrance.
Check the official website before visiting, as ceremonies occasionally restrict public access to certain sections.
Do not attempt to walk down the steep, unstable cliffs directly to the beach; use the official paths in Ver-sur-Mer.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor; appropriate attire is expected as it is a place of remembrance.
