The atmosphere in the factory was a little less light-hearted than it had been the day before because so many of the women had husbands, brothers, sons and lovers in the forces that were taking part in the invasion – and suddenly the war, and the very real danger they were in, was too close for comfort. There was an underlying sense of excitement that this could be the end of the war, but on the whole, the women were careful not to get too carried away, and set to work, always on the alert for the next news bulletin.

It came at midday and utter silence fell throughout the factory as John Snagge’s mellow voice announced a special bulletin.

‘D-Day has come,’ he said. ‘Early this morning the Allies began the assault on the north-western face of Hitler’s European fortress. The first official news came just after half-past nine when Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force – usually called SHAEF from its initials – issued communiqué number one. This said, “Under the command of General Eisenhower, Allied naval forces supported by strong air forces began landing Allied armies this morning on the northern coast of France.”

‘It was announced a little later that General Montgomery is in command of the army group carrying out the assault. This army group includes British, Canadian and United States forces.

‘The Allied Commander in Chief General Eisenhower has issued an order of the day addressed to each individual of the Allied Expeditionary Force. In it he said, “Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”

‘This order was distributed to assault elements after their embarkation. It was read by the appropriate commanders to all other troops in the Allied Expeditionary Force.

‘His Majesty the King will broadcast to his people at home and overseas at nine o’clock tonight.

‘No details have yet come in from the Allied side of the progress of the operations. The Germans, who have been broadcasting news of the attack on all their services except their own home service, say that the points assailed extend from Cherbourg to Havre, with the main weight of the attack in the area of Caen, which is some thirty miles west of Havre, and some sixty miles east of Cherbourg. They speak also of landings by paratroops, especially in the Havre area, and of stiff fighting. The important airfield at Caen has been one of the main targets for recent Allied air attacks.