Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Boudicca sets sail on one of the most poignant and moving journeys in its history tomorrow (2 June), on The Royal British Legion’s historic seven-night D-Day 75 Voyage of Remembrance from Dover.
The ship, chartered to Suffolk-based Arena Travel on behalf of The Royal British Legion, will carry up to 300 D-Day veterans – plus their carers and companions – from Dover to the coast of Normandy where they will attend a series of commemorative events, in both England and France, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on 6 June, 1944.
To commemorate this very special sailing, Boudicca’s exterior has been decorated with The Royal British Legion’s recognisable red poppy insignia, most notably on the bow, stern and deckhouse.
Peter Deer, Commercial Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “It is a tremendous honour for us to be part of The Royal British Legion’s commemorations in what is set to be a very emotional voyage for these veterans and their loved ones.
“We are very proud that our cruise ship, Boudicca, will be following the same path as the ships involved on this momentous day, which brought peace and reconciliation to mark the Second World War.”
Among the D-Day veterans joining Boudicca for the much-anticipated Voyage is 95-year-old Ted Cordery, who was a Leading Seaman Torpedoman aboard HMS Belfast. He said: “I never, ever thought I would go back to the beaches again. I’d like to just stand and remember.”
In Dover, veterans will receive a very special send-off, with the ‘40s-themed ‘Swingtime Sweethearts’ performing in the Cruise Terminal throughout the day, which will be decked out with flags and bunting, and a display of military vehicles from the era, as well as the Dover Sea Cadets marching and performing a number of evocative wartime songs,
Boudicca will then visit Dunkirk on Monday, return to Poole on Tuesday, where the Ministry of Defence will be hosting military-themed events, dock in Portsmouth on Wednesday from where much of the landing force sailed in 1944, and on the 6th follow in the footsteps of the brave soldiers involved in the Battle of Normandy, arriving in Le Havre for what is sure to be an emotional and memorable day.
Veterans will disembark early in the morning to attend a Memorial Service at the Bayeux CWGC Cemetery, followed by a late afternoon of local events at Arromanches.
The following day, they will have the opportunity to visit the Operation Overlord beaches, Sword and Gold, as well as Pegasus Bridge, the British Normandy Memorial and the Arromanches Military Museum. Boudicca will return to Portsmouth on 8 June.
The Royal British Legion’s D-Day 75 Voyage of Remembrance has been offered free of charge to D-Day veterans and their companions, funded by the UK Government’s LIBOR grant, in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence.