Philip Hammond to reveal memorial for D-Day war heroes in Budget – to remember all who died in WWII Normandy battle
The Normandy Memorial will contain the names of 21,000 members of the Army and Merchant Navy who fought in the campaign
D-DAY war heroes are set to finally receive a memorial in Northern France to commemorate all who fought in the WWII battle.
Philip Hammond is set to reveal that £20million will be set aside in Wednesday's budget to help pay for it.
Our boys from the British Armed forces and Merchant Navy who died will be among the 21,000 names on the memorial, to be built in Northern France.
It is being commissioned to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019.
The Government money will come from fines issued to banks in the wake of the Libor rates scandal. And extra cash will be raised through a fundraising appeal from the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion.
It will be built close to one of the beaches in Normandy where thousands of Brits invaded France in 1944 in an offensive that led to the defeat of the Nazis.
The news will please the 500 vets who fought in the battle who are still alive today. And they will be asked to vote on which location they prefer - either Colville Montgomery beach, or Ver-sur-Mer.
An information centre including a database of all those who died will also be placed at the site.
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George Batts, who was 18 during the D-Day landings, said: "I am just so pleased. It has been my dream for a while now.
"But those we left behind were the real heroes. You can’t give more than your life. They lost their lives and now their names will go on the memorial."
Theresa May said in a statement: "We must never forget the courage, sacrifice and selflessness of the British servicemen and women who gave their lives in the D-Day landings.
"Located close by the beaches where they began the liberation of Europe, the Normandy Memorial will be a fitting tribute to them and a place where people can gather to reflect on their extraordinary achievements.
"Its unveiling on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in 2019 will provide a timely reminder that we should never take our freedom for granted."