Watch: The STAGGERING responses from young Britons when asked if they know what D-Day is - 'Errr... Something to do with the war?'

Watch: The STAGGERING responses from young Britons when asked if they know what D-Day is - 'Errr... Something to do with the war?'

Young Britons discuss the significance of D-Day

GB NEWS
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 15/05/2024

- 14:13

Updated: 15/05/2024

- 16:15

New data from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission found that one in five young people 'don’t know' what the significance of D-Day is

  • A D-Day veteran wants young people to be taught about the significance of the historic event
  • HAVE YOUR SAY - Should it be compulsory in the curriculum? COMMENT NOW

Young Britons left GB News reporter Jeff Moody shocked by their responses to questions about D-Day.

It comes as new data from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission found that one in five young people “don’t know” what the significance of D-Day is.


It has prompted calls for better education ahead of the 80th anniversary of the largest seaborne invasion in history.

Jeff was in Barnstaple, Devon, to find out whether young people are getting a bad wrap on the matter.

Young Britons, Rishi Sunak and D-Day veteran Peter Kent

Many young Britons have no idea about the significance of D-Day

GB NEWS / PA

“I know it’s very important, but I don’t remember that much about it”, said one.

“Is it something to do with the war?” She added.

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Jeff Moody was in Barnstaple, Devon, finding out how much youngsters know about D-Day

GB NEWS

Despite the young Brit’s knowledge about the historic event being in question, she stressed the importance of paying tribute to our fallen heroes.

“It’s about the people who fought for put country and the people we lost”, she said.

“I think it’s really brave, what they managed to do all those years ago. It’s absolutely amazing.

“It’s worth celebrating because they did so much for us. The least we can do is have one day for them.”

D-Day veteran Harry Billinge dies aged 96, his daughter confirmsUndated handout photo issued by the Normandy Memorial Trust of veteran Harry Billinge in 2018 returning to Gold Beach where he landed on D-Day in 1944. Harry Billinge who was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944 has died aged 96 after a short illness, his family has said. Issue date: Tuesday April 5, 2022.gbnews

Another young Brit was also not clued up on his country’s past.

Asked by Jeff Moody if he knows what it is, he said: “D-Day, that the end of World War Two isn’t it?”

He added: “I don’t really know much about it. I used to know a bit, but not anymore.”

World War Two veteran Henry Rice is among those to have called for children to receive a better education, telling the BBC that “it’s a pity” there is a lack of it.

Rice said: "I have honestly found that when you talk to 10, 12, 14-year-old children in this country I don’t think some of them know Arromanches."

He added: “I think it’s important, this world is dangerous at the moment, if those children grow up into adults and know what this is all about, collectively they can go to politicians, Russians can go to Putin and say ‘Oi, we’ve had all this before. We don’t want it. Stop it, please’."

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