Friday 2 June. D minus 3. Just 48 hours to go before the launch of the proposed liberation of France, now scheduled for Monday 5 June. The United Kingdom is in a state of virtual lockdown. But where is the Prime Minister? He is not to be found in 10 Downing Street or his offices in Parliament or even in his war rooms. At a time when travel around England was being severely restricted, Churchill has made his way to the south coast aboard his private train.
In fact, he is hoping to go even further. At his request, Admiral Ramsay has drawn up plans for him to board HMS Belfast on D minus 1, before transferring to a destroyer for a short tour of the beaches on D-Day itself. This is not a popular plan.
The Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower, and the other military leaders do not want the added burden of Churchill anywhere near the action.
