A 90-year-old D-Day veteran’s tribute song to the World War II invasion is outselling songs by popular artists like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran on Amazon’s singles chart.
In 1944, at age 15, Jim Radford was a “galley boy” with the Merchant Navy on the Empire Larch.
On D-Day, Radford took his first deep sea trip to Normandy to help build the Mulberry Harbour, which enabled the Royal Navy to transport personnel and supplies onto the beaches.
Twenty-five years after the invasion, Radford returned to Normandy and was inspired to write the song, Shores of Normandy after he was moved to tears at the scenes of children playing where soldiers had died.
Radford told ABC News, “I didn’t know when I went that my first trip was going to be the invasion of Europe. The song is to remember the brave lads that didn’t come back.”
His song was originally released in 1969 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of D-Day and has been re-released this year to mark the 75th anniversary.
The song includes touching lyrics:
As the years pass by, I can still recall the men I saw that day
Who died upon that blood-soaked sand where now sweet children play;
And those of you who were unborn, who’ve lived in liberty,
Remember those who made it so on the shores of Normandy.
Proceeds from the song will be donated to the British Normandy Memorial. You can purchase the song from Amazon HERE.
