Around 83,000 British and Canadian troops, and 73,000 US troops, crossed the channel on D-Day, with the crossing taking about 17 hours.The operation was seen as one of the greatest ever achievements in British military and naval history.
In the second of our series of archive photos from D-Day – you can see our first gallery here – you can get a rare glimpse of what the operation was like for those involved.
MORE RETRO PHOTOS: Trips to Canoe Lake | Lost Gunwharf Quays shops | Portsmouth in 1982
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MORE RETRO PHOTOS: Trips to Canoe Lake | Lost Gunwharf Quays shops | Portsmouth in 1982
![Mulberry Harbour model, Operation Overlord
(c) The News, War Series 3334](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmVmMWZkYWY2LWJiMDYtNDRiMy04YmVlLTI3ODY1MDUwYzgzMzphYTQ2YWYwOS0yY2YxLTQ3NTEtODU1MC02MmU1YmUwMDM1YjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Memories from D Day
Mulberry Harbour model, Operation Overlord (c) The News, War Series 3334Photo: The News archive
![Operation Overlord - Embarkation of the Royal Canadian Engineers
(c) The News, War Series 2942](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg1MWU1N2UxLTIxNzAtNGNhYy1iNzA1LTg0YTUyYWM1NDM5MDo3MjJhODE1OS1iOTY4LTRlZjgtYjYwNy0xNjQ4MzRiZGEwYzc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Memories from D Day
Operation Overlord - Embarkation of the Royal Canadian Engineers (c) The News, War Series 2942Photo: The News archive
![Tanks preparing in a South Coast town](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjc3MmQwMmYyLTlhZmItNGE2NC04YTNiLTNmMjkyM2VlM2ZlZjpiM2U5ZmUxYS04MmM3LTRhMTAtODlkOS05NTliZjdmNzBkYmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
![Waiting for the order to move out from the invasion assembly camp
(c) The News, War Series 2891](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI2NDhjM2Y1LWJlZWEtNDdhYy1iOTc1LTc3OWU5ZTkwMzFlODpmNGJlY2UyOC04NTdhLTQ4MDYtOGMzYy1kMTg3MjVlODRlMTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Memories from D Day
Waiting for the order to move out from the invasion assembly camp (c) The News, War Series 2891Photo: The News archive