I attended this event taking a 1942 Willys Jeep on a trailer from here in Northern Ireland over to Normandy, France to take part in the event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D Day, the landing of allied forces on the beaches of Normandy.
Thousands of military vehicles of that era attended this huge event.
Firstly, the long journey to Rosslare to catch the ferry to Cherbourg.
Then after 17 hour ferry trip, we made our way to the village of Sainte Mere Eglise, where preparations for D Day events were well under way. The plaque shows the history of this village during D Day.
We stayed in the village of St Aubin Sur Mer, where Juno beach is located, Canadian troops landed on this beach on D Day.
We spent the week touring round the Normandy coast and villages in the Willys Jeep, hundreds of preserved military vehicles of that era were traveling around the area.
One of the days we traveled inland to Pegasus Bridge, the first bridge to be captured by allied forces.
The original bridge liberated on that day is pictured below, along with the first building to be liberated by allied forces, a cafe beside the bridge still standing today.
Also a museum located in the village
Gold Beach
Bunker on the beach that took a direct hit from Navy ships pounding the coast on D Day
Visited one of the war cemeteries, this one was Canadian, around 2000 buried here, youngest aged 19.
Laid a wreath on behalf of Castlereagh Borough Council, Belfast
More pictures from around Normandy
Very low fly past of military aircraft of the beaches near Arromanche
At midnight on the eve of 70th anniversary of D Day on Juno beach, thousands of people from all over the world gathered for firework display on all of the beaches simultaneously on the Normandy coast
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