The D-Day Story

We have just been donated a fascinating collection of documents related to Corporal Douglas Bird. Douglas served with 927 Inland Water Transport Light Aid Workshop Company of the Royal Engineers on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy. The Company maintained the Rhino ferry engines used to carry vehicles and equipment to shore.
The collection includes orders for the Company in March 1944 when it was camped on Southsea Common, tickets for the Calvados Railway in Normandy that was destroyed by the bombardment early on D-Day and detailed drawings and plans of the Rhino ferries and engines.
We're always interested to hear about donations related to D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. If you would like to donate objects to The D-Day Story please contact us via the 'donate an artefact' page on our website.

We are always trying to find out more about the object in our collections! This collar box comes from a group of objects that the museum purchased in the 1980s. We know that the owner's name was J.A. Bayley. He was probably an officer who served in the Royal Artillery as the box contains RA shoulder titles, and from his medal ribbons we know that he fought in North Africa and in North-West Europe.

Cooking in the 2nd world war was hard with limited ingredients. See our collection of wartime recipe books on sale in the D-Day Story shop. #ddaystory #shopsaturday

Did one of your family members or friends take part in the Normandy campaign? Honour and treasure them with a plaque on the Normandy Memorial Wall at The D-Day Story.
Follow this link for more information on how to commission the engraving of a plaque bearing the name and unit of the person you wish to remember. http://ow.ly/NA9V30lNdXl
In doing so you will not only commemorate your loved one but also fund our ongoing education programme by supporting The D-Day Museum Trust.

This French 'Adrian' helmet was found in Old Portsmouth by Eddie Wallace, a D-Day veteran who also served in the Portsmouth Police. We don't know the story behind it, but perhaps it was originally owned by a French soldier who was in Portsmouth during the Second World War?

We were honoured to host a surprise presentation of Fred Temple's Legion d'honneur at The D-Day Story on Saturday.
Watch ITV Meridian's report on the event!

Our D-Day Story Portsmouth Brown Ale is now on offer in The D-Day Story Shop - 2 bottles for £6.50, perfect for sharing with friends. #ddaystory #shopsaturday

Have you ever wondered how objects become part of a museum's collections?
Major Llewellyn Lawrence served in 506th Divisional Company of the Royal Army Service Corps during the Battle of Normandy, and was part of the 43rd (Wessex) Division.
His family donated over 100 objects to us, including uniform, equipment, books and other documents. They all help us to tell his story.

We are looking for community groups in or around Portsmouth that would like to research their area’s link to the 1944 D-Day landings.
We're particularly keen to hear from groups that haven't carried out this kind of research before and would like some help guiding them through the process.
Groups that are interested should be based within Portsmouth or 30 miles of the city. Apply by 31 October via http://ow.ly/SQJz30lyIvM
... The picture shows Royal Engineers preparing to board a landing craft near South Parade Pier in Portsmouth. Copyright The News, Portsmouth.
See More

Interesting event taking place at National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth on 7 September: "Real Life Stories of Wars Forgotten Woman – War Widows"

Section of PLUTO (Pipeline Under the Ocean) recovered from Sandown Bay, Isle of Wight. Pipe was used for pumping fuel across English Channel to Normandy after D-Day. Was specially designed with multiple layers for strength and flexibility. #WW2 #DDay #DDaystory #DDayStorydisplays

Badge of 1st Polish Armoured Division worn during Battle of Normandy, worn by Jerzy Kobryner. Poles fought alongside British and Canadian troops. #WW2 #DDay #DDaystory #DDayStorydisplays

We are running a British Sign Language tour of the museum on the 7th September from 14:00 to 15:00. Join expert BSL guide John Wilson as he takes you on a fascinating tour to explore and explain the highlights of our collection. Book your tickets online http://ow.ly/90Rx30lkZDA

At Victorious Festival? Entry to the museum is free today as part of your festival ticket! Come and see us.

We are very excited to be part of Victorious Festival! From Friday 24th August to 26th August to enter the museum you will need a ticket to the festival. Come to the museum or find us with family activities in the children's area.

We are very excited to be part of Victorious Festival! From Friday 24th August to 26th August to enter the museum you will need a festival ticket. Come to the museum or find us with family activities in the children's area.

US Navy photographer Fred Gerretson landed on Utah Beach. He sent undeveloped films back to UK for processing in press bags like this one. He never saw his photos until after end of war. #WW2 #DDay #DDaystory #DDayStorydisplays

Come to The D-Day Story and have fun making and painting your own genuine Airfix model to take home. Explore the Surface Warship Association's impressive collection of handmade ships that may just inspire you to build something bigger!
No need to book, drop in any time on the day.
Cost: £2 per model, museum admission applies.
... More information on how to find us and ticket prices for the museum can be found here: https://theddaystory.com/plan-your-visit/
See More

Some troops were away from home for years. At end of WW2 'Scottie' Scott made this card and sent it to his wife Frances to let her know he was coming home at last. #WW2 #DDay #DDaystory #DDayStorydisplays

We tried to visit last year to find the museum was closed for refurbishment, so this year we thought we would give it a try on a rainy day. Really enjoyed our visit today. A lovely little museum. A few interactive things for children to do and some very poignant films and exhibits.

The tapestry is amazing. The cafe was good and the souvenir shop had some quality items in amongst the pocket money items.



Highlight of the day was the time that one of the volunteer staff members was prepared to spend explaining things to our 5 year old son. It helped to bring the museum to life for him, and it was lovely to see someone so able to spark interest in a small child. It’s a shame we did not get the guy’s name as he deserves credit for his time today. (He was in the first room when it opened this morning, and was wearing glasses).



Thank you for an enjoyable couple of hours.

This was a very interesting visit all children should learn the story of D Day

The Tapestry is well worth it. Met a volunteer guide. Who was at the Normandy Landings. He is 99. And an amazing man. An honour to shake his hand

Some really awesome audio visual projections, fascinating objects in cabinet displays and engaging interactive stuff to do as well.

Really enjoyed the revamped museum and the embroidery is just incredible. A modern day Bayeux Tapestry. I personally found the museum and it’s exhibits very poignant as my Father was in the D Day Landings when he was just 19. Highly recommend.

Really enjoyed out first visit as a family to the newly re-opened museum. It felt very immersive and I loved the focus on personal stories and experiences. Some sort of annual ticket option for locals would be great. Especially with young children who often need more than one visit to take it all in.

My son won a national competition, Young Historian 2017, through the Spirit of Normandy Trust, after researching D-Day for a project. He recently enjoyed his visit to your museum and was engaged with the information displayed, he especially liked hearing the voices of some of the veterans and the interactive elements. Although not a large museum he was engaged for an hour and a half and he said he would recommend a visit to his friends.

My son is into his WW2 history and especially all about the D-Day landings so he was in his element worth the money.

I really enjoyed my recent trip to the D-Day Story Museum.



I would however recommend subtitles on the interactive videos where you have the veterans talking about their experiences.

I barely were able to hear some of them, so can imagine the elderly would have trouble there.



I think my favourite item was the handmade 21st birthday card. And all the photos.

More things like that would be fab!

I liked it told life story's of real people who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our independence and freedom found an uncle in where the tapestry is killed in Normandy 1944 I was named after him rest in peace

Great museum alot better than i expected. The tapestry was amazing and bright and alot bigger than i expected. Loved tbe landing craft with soldiers in. Weapons and pieces from from the time great. �10/10.impressed. only thing i missed was tanks out front ? Hope they return when building completed.

Great little informative museum well worth a visit

Amazing a great tribute to our armed forces! Definitely worth a visit.

Ace trip! Something for everyone, regardless of how familiar they are with the History of the 6th June 1944. Highly recommend!

AS a D-Day Veteran who landed on Gold Beach I found the D-Day Story Museum Of great interest and really enjoyed every moment especialy the Overlord Tapestry.

A wonderful insight into the pain toil and struggle our forefathers and allies went through to free the world of tyranny ,god bless

A small but lovely museum, nice exhibits, newly refurbished, helpful staff, tasty scones, the embroidery and Monty's beret some of the highlights.

Very slick re-furb, a bit more focused on D Day than before and some nice exhibits with themes. It feels like there is less exhibition space. Quite a lot of IT wizzy stuff, interactive screens, an annoying film thingy on a repeating loop of a colonel giving a briefing, and sensors that start off commentaries as you enter a section. Nice cafe but only one person serving. D Day embroidery the same with the story of its creation in the centre bit. Some of the exhibits were a bit random and the outside stuff not finished yet. Definitely worth a visit.

Unable to give a review as the the museum is still undergoing a complete reorganisation and refurbishment .

I am certain it will become an excellent credit to the City of Portsmouth once it reopens on the 30th of March and after it has been operational for a couple of weeks and any possible teething bugs sorted out I shall visit it again and write a updated report .