The official film and photographic documentation of the D-Day landings was captured by No. 5 Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU), led by Major Hugh Stewart. Members of this unit were embedded with various formations preparing for the invasion, and ten of them went ashore with the assault troops.

Sgt George Laws, a cameraman with No. 4 Commando, became the first AFPU member to land, arriving on Sword Beach at 7:45 AM. Soon after, photographer Sgt Jimmy Mapham landed with the 13th/18th Royal Hussars, Sgt Desmond O’Neill with the 2nd East Yorkshire Regiment, and Sgt Billy Greenhalgh with the 1st South Lancashire Regiment.

Additional photographers and cameramen landed on Juno and Gold beaches. Sgt Jim Christie was the sole AFPU member to accompany the 6th Airborne Division, landing by glider despite being parachute-trained.

These men faced the same dangers as the combat troops. Sgt Greenhalgh was injured by a mortar explosion, and Sgt O’Neill was hit by machine gun fire. In the days and weeks following the invasion, the AFPU suffered further losses, with some members, including Sgt Norman Clague, killed in action.

Their invaluable work—both the films and photographs—are preserved in the Imperial War Museum’s collection, ensuring their contributions to history endure.

Source IWM, Accessed on 2024-10-23

Image: IWM (B 5288 – Vehicles including a Royal Signals jeep and trailer and RASC Leyland lorry on ‘Pegasus Bridge’ over the Caen Canal at Benouville, 9 June 1944. The signallers are fixing telephone lines across the bridge, taken by Sgt Jim Christie. The British Army in the Normandy Campaign 1944