Countdown to D-Day

Sunderland in 1944. How the Echo reported D Day as we appeal for reader memories.

Transcript

00:00 The countdown is on for the 80th anniversary of B-Day.

00:05 The liberation of Europe began on June 6th 1944.

00:11 The Sunderland Echoes 6 o'clock edition provided readers with the latest detail of the campaign

00:17 and encouragingly reported "invasion is going well".

00:23 Prime Minister Winston Churchill told the nation

00:27 "the fire of the shore batteries has been largely quelled".

00:32 Alongside the harder news was a front page advert for bins.

00:36 You could buy the latest fabrics such as tweeds for 7 shillings and 6pence

00:42 and blazer flannel for 5 shillings and 5pence.

00:47 Liverpool House in High Street West was selling shopping bags for 4 shillings and 4pence

00:53 and rug yarn was 9 shillings and 10pence.

00:58 Plus news of that day's blackout time 11.30pm to 4.20am.

01:06 Echo newspaper deliverers would be sieged

01:09 as they brought the latest editions of the paper to the streets.

01:14 Did you have a relative who was part of the D-Day landings?

01:18 Share their story by emailing chris.courtner@nationalworld.com