The GOLD BEACH museum pays tribute to the British soldiers, sailors and airmen who were involved in the landings in the GOLD sector on June 6, 1944. The museum particularly evokes the events which took place in Ver-sur-Mer in the sub-sector of KING beach, from the preparation of the operation, the collection of information, the planning, the preliminary bombardments and finally the assault of the German defensive positions by the 69th Infantry Brigade, organic unit of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division of 'infantry. Also mentioned are the units which supported the 69th brigade, the 61 SHERMAN tanks of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, 38 of which were “DUPLEX DRIVE”, astonishing 30-ton amphibious tanks, the “FUNNIES”, special armored vehicles designed to break through German defenses, handled by the engineers of the 81st Assault Squadron The Royal Engineers and the cavalrymen of the Westminster Dragoons, the field artillery with the 24 SEXTON self-propelled guns of the 86th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery, a highly mobile artillery unit that can quickly respond to requests for fire support from the 69th brigade. The involvement of the Royal Air Force in the preliminary bombings of German defensive positions, including those of the coastal battery known as “Mont-Fleury” which received no less than 500 tons of bombs shortly before dawn on D-Day dropped by 101 HALIFAX heavy bombers of 4th Group Bomber Command RAF. Without forgetting the essential role of the Royal Navy without which nothing would have been possible, two videos evoke the crossing of the Channel on June 5 and 6, 1944 as well as the preliminary bombardments of the German defensive positions in the GOLD sector by the naval bombing force “K” at dawn on June 6, 1944

An explanatory panel shows in detail the German defensive positions built in the commune of Ver-sur-Mer during the occupation, several of which were started late in early 1944 and were not yet operational on June 6, 1944. Very realistic dioramas provide a 3D vision of the various materials used. Panels also explain the operation of beach logistics and the construction of the advanced B3 airfield put into service on June 10, 1944 in the plain between Ver-sur-Mer and Sainte-Croix. Photos and objects evoke this construction as well as a diorama of the B3 airfield receiving a visit on June 15 from the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in North-West Europe, General Dwight Eisenhower and on July 23, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Sir Winston Churchill.

Finally, we present German reconnaissance photos taken at high altitude above the GOLD beachhead by an ARADO jet plane in August 1944. New for the 2024 season, we present five videos with commentary in French and English, a total of 30 minutes of images, which retrace the preparation, the crossing, the preliminary bombings, the advance of the 69th brigade and the arrival of the first reinforcements on June 6 and 7, 1944.

Pictures of other displays

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