‘This morning, my lads, I was taken across to the mainland in a naval pinnace. I went to a commanders’ conference. The Army Group Commander was there… Monty to you…’

There was a rumble of laughter.

‘…Well lads, I suppose you’ve guessed it by now – we’re off.’

There was silence. The men had waited too long, had been disappointed too often to be able to absorb the bald announcement quickly. The colonel spoke again.

‘I can’t tell you where it is yet. You’ll know that on board ship. You’re embarking tomorrow, by the way. But I can tell you this – it’s France.’

They had never expected it to be like this; sitting on the grass, in the sunshine, with the ships spread across the sea below and the calm voice coming to them through the silence; the voice calm and quiet as if this were just another training scheme ahead of them. Stolid and steady men themselves, for the most part, they had nevertheless secretly imagined that this would be a moment of inspiration, of brave words, of stirring, farewell messages from the high and mighty. Still, it felt good to be sitting here on the hot grass, elbow to elbow with your mates, listening, with a first, faint fluttering of excitement starting somewhere inside you.

’Monty gave us all the griff about the forces he’s putting across the water. It’s terrific lads, really terrific. It would have given you confidence just to hear him reading out those facts and figures.’

The colonel grinned apologetically at his men. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t got them, lads, but I’m no great hand at writing. They should have let me take Major Norman with me. He’s been doing my homework for months.’

Laughter, the warm, responsive laughter now of comrades.

‘You should have heard him, lads. Thousands and thousands of aircraft. Battleships and cruisers galore to give covering fire. They’re going to have little boats going to and fro picking people up if any landing craft get sunk. Oh…’ the colonel grinned at them again, ‘…and I mustn’t forget this. They’re even going to have two canteen ships anchored off the coast. In fact, as far as I can see, this is going to be the most luxurious invasion in the history of mankind.’

More laughter.

‘Well,’ said the colonel, ‘almost. There’s a lot more, but you’ll get that from your platoon officers. There’ll be a last collection of mail after lunch. You won’t be able to send any letters after that. As soon as you’re dismissed I want company commanders in my tent. Junior officers, sergeants and all n.c.o.s leading sections meet for briefing in the dining marquee at fifteen hundred hours. The battalion will parade again at sixteen hundred to draw French money. I think that’s about all.’

He paused for a moment.