The D-Day Landings: An Omaha Beach Walking Tour

I was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1961. I am very proud to be Scottish - we are a proud nation full of history and tradition. Scotland and the rest of Britain still showed the effects of a long World War II; one could still see the places that had been bombed. There were veterans everywhere, proud people living in hard times, all with their own stories, all carrying their own pain.

My mum's side of the family - all grandparents and great-uncles - had five men serving across the world. My dad's side of the family had four serving men. Here are a few of them.

Uncle Bob served in the Royal Navy and was captured by the Japanese in Hong Kong in 1941. He survived.

My dad's father worked for the government and received the MBE from the King. Uncle George was killed on D-Day, a captain in the British 6th Airborne. My uncle Alex - I often refer to him as the father figure in my life. His personality, and his honour in what he had done to free the world, planted the seed that eventually led me here. Uncle Alex served with the Black Watch, Scotland's oldest regiment, part of the 51st Highland Division, from El Alamein in 1942, across North Africa, Sicily and Normandy, to the Rhine crossings. Unfortunately, he was very badly wounded after crossing the Rhine and spent the next seven years in hospital. He is my inspiration to tell the true history of what happened here in Normandy.

As a guide, I have had on tour everyone from veterans to a three-star American general, families following their family's history, and people just wanting to understand more and pay their respects.

I think my best memory is of Cecil Newton, who landed at Gold Beach with the 4/7 Dragoon Guards in an amphibious tank. Cecil stayed in touch with me over many years, returning for the ceremonies every year. I learnt a lot from him, and it was an honour to spend time with Cecil, or with any veteran. The regimental monument to Cecil's battalion is in Creully, where they renamed the primary school Ecole Primaire Cecil Newton. I believe Cecil is the only veteran to have a school in Normandy named after him. Cecil always said: tell nothing but the truth. That has been my principle ever since.

The more I guide, the more I learn. There is always more to learn.

This tour starts in the car park next to the American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy.

Follow all traffic directions to the American Cemetery. At the roundabout, with the Overlord Museum on one side and the driveway to the American Cemetery on the other, turn down the road to the cemetery. This leads to another roundabout - turn first right and follow the road for about 400 yards. On the right is a car park; park there. The tour starts from here.