British troops in landing craft approach Sword Beach near Ouistreham, 6 June 1944

Photograph, World War Two, North West Europe (19, 1944.

British troops from the 3rd Division, 27th Armoured Brigade and elements of 79th Armoured Division and 1st Special Service Brigade landed on Sword Beach which ran from Ouistreham to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Compared to the other D-Day beaches it was lightly defended and by noon the attackers had succeeded in linking up with airborne troops who had seized bridges over the River Orne and the Caen Canal.

One of 102 photographs by A D C Smith, Army Commandos, relating to Operation Overlord and D-Day.