The page you requested could not be found There could be an error in the URL you entered into your browser why not take a look at some of the other great sections on the Express website: If it’s still a mystery don’t hesitate to contact us here. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated The night before June 6, 1944, fleets of warships moved in darkness towards the beaches of Normandy, France, for a massive strike, with Chinese naval officer Lam Ping-yu on one of the vessels. The ships were as “numerous as ants, scattered and wriggling all across the sea,” Lam wrote in his diary. “Around 5am: HMS Warspite was the first to open fire.” Lam’s 80-page journal is the centerpiece of a Hong Kong exhibition launching this month, which for the first time chronicles the stories of 24 Chinese officers who helped Allied forces in their landmark D-Day operation. Historians, documentaries and pop culture have often focused on the British involvement in the largest amphibious military operation, which led to the end of Nazi occupation of Western Europe in World War II. However, little is known about the Chinese naval officers sent to Europe for training. Lam, then 33, was serving on the British warship HMS Ramillies which, according to his diary, opened fire about an hour after HMS Warspite. “Throughout the day, Ramillies fired over 200 15-inch rounds, but the (Nazi) fort’s cover and positioning kept it from annihilation,” he wrote. Digital copies of Lam’s previously unseen diary will be displayed at the Fringe Club and the Chinese University of Hong Kong this month. “We believe this historical episode belongs to everyone in both the East and the West,” said John Mok, 32, a public policy advocate and one of the organizers of the exhibition. “Sometimes we would ponder whether it was the Chinese helped liberate the West, or the West helped train the Chinese navy? It was actually ‘you are among us and we are among you’,” he said. “I believe such inherent friendship is very precious these days as it’s beyond politics — the human solidarity in times of war.” The Chinese government selected 100 officers between 1943 and 1944 to receive training in the US and Britain to rebuild China’s naval force after it was destroyed by Japan, one of the Axis powers aligned with Nazi Germany. The first batch of 24 officers sent to Britain included Lam and his comrade Huang Tingxin, whose son Huang Shansong will attend the Hong Kong exhibition. “The strategic consideration at that time was to connect China’s fight with the world’s anti-fascist war... so that with the support from the US and Britain, China could better defend Japan’s invasion,” said Huang, who is a Chinese history professor based in Hangzhou. Huang published a book of his father’s oral history in 2013 but said he found Lam’s diary more valuable for its accuracy, compared to his father’s decades-old memories. “Lam’s diary is by far the only first-person, on-the-spot record about the 24 men’s internship in Britain that is known to us today,” he said. He will bring his father’s Legion d’Honneur — awarded in 2006 for the elder Huang’s contribution to France’s liberation — to lend to the exhibition. “He always told me wars, in particular modern wars, were shockingly destructive,” Huang said. “The importance of peace cannot be emphasized more.” After the war, the naval commander lived in Hong Kong until the late 1960s and left the bulk of his personal items — including the diary — in his brother’s apartment. Rescued by a photographer and an amateur historian before the building was demolished, the diary caught the interest of Angus Hui, a former journalist who obtained a photocopy for his postgraduate study in Chinese naval history. Hui met Mok last year, who suggested the stories “deserve a wider audience.” While conducting research trips to China, Taiwan, Singapore and Europe, where the veterans had settled after the war, they found that Hong Kong was the most suitable place for the exhibition. Hui said he hopes the exhibition can address Hong Kong’s place in today’s world. The former British colony — once branded “Asia’s World City” — has fallen out of favor in recent years with Western governments, which have condemned Hong Kong over a rights crackdown following democracy protests in 2019. But Lam’s decision to come to Hong Kong “reflected the uniqueness of this place,” Hui said. “People may say Hong Kong is no longer relevant... But from history and from our own experience, we find Hong Kong still relevant,” he said. Normandy survivors have been sharing their stories of D-Day with today's generation of military personnel from all three services. The veterans, the youngest of whom is 98, told of their service during the Second World War before heading to France to commemorate 80 years since D-Day. They will take a large Landing Craft Utility to Normandy to support 80th anniversary commemorations, resulting in memorial events in Port-en-Bessin - a village liberated by the Commandos in 1944. Veterans were invited to tell their stories to personnel and the general public at the D-Day Museum in Southsea, as well as light the first of 14 torches as part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's 'light their legacy' campaign. All the veterans present were frail, using walking sticks or wheelchairs, with 2024 likely to be the last time D-Day veterans are seen gathering in any significant number. One of those, 98-year-old former Royal Marine Keith Whiting had a smile from one ear to the other as he found himself among the ranks of 47 Commando. He was one of those Marines in an X-Turret on 6 June 1944 sending 'iron greetings', or 15in shells, to the German defenders from HMS Ramillies. The umbrella of shell-fire helped protect the troops assaulting the beaches in 1944. The ship was called in to support the advance of Allied armour, with spotter planes pointing the guns towards a wood blocking the path of the tanks. "By the time we’d finished the shooting, there was nothing left of the wood," Mr Whiting recalled. "We shoved bits of toilet paper up our noses and in our ears. After a while you’d start to bleed, so you left the turret, took a break, replaced the toilet paper and went back to your post." Another veteran attending the event was John Dennett, who had conducted amphibious operations before in North Africa as well as Salerno and Anzio in Italy. "I saw a bit of the world before bloody Normandy," he said. On D-Day, he crossed the Channel as an anti-aircraft gunner and said seeing the armada crossing alongside him filled him with confidence. "The sight was unbelievable and I knew there and then we were part of something big, you felt that nothing could happen to us," he said. "We had no idea of the bigger picture – we were aware of the chaos and carnage around us, the tide bringing bodies back in.  "It was only later that you begin to realise how lucky you were – it could have been any one of us lost." In later life, Mr Dennett, from Wallasey, Wirral, made it his mission to educate on the sacrifices his comrades made on D-Day, as well as help those PTSD from more contemporary conflicts such as Afghanistan. As a result of his work, he received the British Empire Medal. "That means more to me than any other medal I’ve received," he said, with his jacket covered with medals from his WW2 service. Samuel Rudge, a serving Royal Marine, described his involvement in the day as a "privilege".  "The veterans are inspirational, they inspire us and events like today or going across to Normandy allow us to show how much we appreciate them," he said. Another Marine, Archie Smoker, said one word summed up the achievements of the D-Day generation: admiration. "We cannot be more grateful for what they did for us," he said.  "Now, with the veterans almost all gone, you have to remember their sacrifices for the freedoms we enjoy.  "And it is something we will never forget." Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe to: CommentsA LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) from the US Coast Guard-manned USS Samuel Chase disembarks troops of the US Army's First Division on the morning of June 6, 1944. HMS Ramillies carrying out a very heavy bombardment in support of the Eastern Flank of the Normandy beachhead during the early stages of the Allied landings, June 6, 1944. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Imperial War Museums The destroyer HMS Beagle, moored off GOLD Area, as landing craft make for the beaches, June 6, 1944. Troops and vehicles aboard an LCT head for the enemy coast, June 6, 1944 Commandos coming ashore from amphibious landing craft, June 6, 1944. Royal Navy Commandos at La Riviere preparing to demolish two of the many beach obstacles designed to hinder the advance of an invading army, June 6, 1944. Work to transform a corner of The Oxford Street District into a ‘Photography Quarter’ began this week The scheme is the first permanent element of the council’s ambitious £150m plans to transform Oxford Street and the surrounding area to get underway Hills Place and a small section of Great Marlborough Street transformed into a ‘Gateway to Soho’ and a cultural attraction in its own right.  Drawing upon the legacy of Soho as a vibrant cultural hub the Quarter will act as an open-air gallery space for the public with an annual ‘Photographers’ Gallery’ programme of light projections and large-scale art lining the streets introducing a sense of vibrancy and spectacle to the area Credit: Andreas Lechthaler Architecture | Artworks © Gideon Mendel and Shirley Baker Estate greening and a multi-layered public arts programme will encourage people to enjoy the area and its unique character the combination of measures will create a more peaceful and relaxing place for people to take time away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and enabling those taking in the atmosphere artistic animation and sounds of the district to experience it fully.  The Soho Photography Quarter reflects the wider vision for the district by making the area more inviting enhancing access for pedestrians and cyclists Westminster City Council Executive Director of Growth Our vision for the Oxford Street District sets out to reinvent the nation’s high street.  We want people to enjoy the time they spend in Oxford Street to discover new and interesting experience around every corner The Photography Quarter will turn this relatively unknown part of our city into a canvas for creatives to surprise and delight visitors from across the globe Last month the council launched its framework for the Oxford Street District which will serve as the blueprint to reinvent the high street for a post pandemic recovery and for the longer term. It reimagines the nation’s favourite high street through the following themes; greener future and together to create a globally competitive centre for innovative retail Recognised worldwide as a leading shopping and cultural destination and attracting around 200 million visitors in a normal year Westminster City Council is leading a coalition of partners to reinvent the area and deliver further improvement projects the plan is focused on a strong economic recovery and adaptation - ensuring businesses and communities have the best possible conditions to safely reopen This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page About us Contact us Advertise with us Company information Careers Privacy statement Terms of service Commenting policy Change cookies settings We also have the most comprehensive listings directory for businesses in Chiswick PROPERTY For more on our aims, click here.   High-class hurdle and chase winner Ramillies will go under ThoroughBid’s online hammer on Wednesday Entries for the sale are open now and closie on Friday The eight-year-old Shantou gelding was last seen winning a beginners’ chase at Thurles in December before in late January failing to win the Grade 3 Naas Novice Chase only after a stewards’ inquiry The Willie Mullins-trained grey is also an eight-length Punchestown maiden hurdle winner and a winner of his sole point-to-point start at Bishops Court in 2019 Ramillies is out of Mrs Wallensky herself a multiple winner and Graded-placed mare and from the family of Aintree festival winner Shannon Glen said: “We’re delighted to have Ramillies in the June Sale catalogue Another high-class horse recruited from the British point-to-point field including picking up prize-money in Grade 1 company at the Cheltenham Festival and he looks a ready-made candidate for next season’s big staying chases "We’ve sold plenty for Willie [Mullins] now and also sold Dark Voyager well for the Donnellys back in September So it’s great to have them entrust us again with the sale of another nice horse in Ramillies We anticipate that having a quality horse like him listed among the lots will bring plenty of online footfall to the June Sale catalogue for which entries are still open and close next Friday.” Honeysuckle's next chapter a walk in the park so far Published on 19 May 2023inSales reports Copyright © 2025 Spotlight Sports Group Limited or its licensors A nine-month-old baby girl has died after choking at a nursery at a private school Police were called to the Ramillies Hall School and Nursery Two ambulances and a paramedic had earlier been called to the school following reports a child was choking Cheshire where a nine-month-old baby girl died after she choked to death The girl was taken to Stockport’s Stepping Hill hospital A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called to an address on Ramillies Avenue shortly after 12.20pm by the North West Ambulance Service following reports a child was choking 'Officers attended and discovered a nine-month old baby had been taken to hospital but was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.' 'Enquiries are continuing to establish the cause of death.' The girl’s death is not thought to be suspicious A spokesman said police are always made aware when a child dies A statement form the school principal called the death a 'devastating tragedy' Parents at the 128-year-old school spoke to the Manchester Evening News of their shock and sadness about the tragedy Mum Marjan Harrison said: 'There was a letter handed out this morning and staff were talking to parents 'The letter explained that the little girl felt poorly about lunch time yesterday and an ambulance was called.' Another parent who did not give their name said: 'I'm concerned and feel sympathy for the girl's parents which said: 'It is with immense sadness that I can confirm that a child attending our nursery died yesterday and our deepest sympathies are with the child’s family the police are now investigating this matter and we are cooperating fully with officers’ enquiries safety and welfare of all children at Ramilies Hall School are taken very seriously 'Our most recent inspection was in 2010 which found us to be compliant in all such areas we are unable to make any further comment.' A spokesperson from North West Ambulance Service said: 'We got a call at 11.52am on Tuesday 'Two ambulances and an advanced paramedic were sent to Ramillies Hall School in Cheadle Hulme to a child reported as choking 'The patient was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital.' Ramillies is a small school set in approximately eight acres of grounds in Cheadle Hulme It is privately-run and takes children aged from six months to 16 years Police say there is nothing suspicious about the death where the baby was taken after choking on food The comments below have been moderated in advance We are no longer accepting comments on this article The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Greater Manchester Police were called to Ramillies Hall Nursery which operates within the grounds of Ramillies Hall School in the Cheadle Hulme district of Stockport following reports that a child was choking The nine-month-old baby was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead Police are continuing with their enquiries to establish the cause of death and working in conjunction with Ofsted and the local authority The nursery continues to operate as normal Ramillies Hall Nursery operates from two buildings within the grounds of Ramillies Hall private school It is open from 8am to 6pm during term-time and registered to care for 69 children The nursery was rated good by Ofsted in 2008 and the same grade was given by the Independent Schools Inspectorate for the school’s early years provision two years later ‘It is with immense sadness that I can confirm that a child attending our nursery died and our deepest sympathies are with the child’s family the police are now investigating this matter and we are co-operating fully with officers’ inquiries safety and welfare of all children at Ramillies Hall School are taken very seriously and we have robust policies in place.’ Nursery World is the UK's leading magazine and website for practitioners and decision-makers across the early years education and childcare sectors Register for free today and get unlimited access to news and opinion plus up to 4 subscriber-only articles per month We offer a range of subscriptions to suit you; take advantage of our print and digital packages from just £11 per month The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n \n \n \n '.concat(e,' Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The file could not be found for a number of reasons such as the file being moved or deleted. 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Click here to get back to where you came from Shelagh Fogarty is Leading Britain's Conversation A 21-year-old man has been charged with the murder of the brother of US rapper 21 Savage Terrell Davis was stabbed to death in Ramillies Close just before 6pm on 22 November while he reportedly took shopping to his grandmother The 27-year-old was said to have been visiting his elderly relative in south London when he was stabbed after bumping into an old friend paid tribute to Mr Davis - who also rapped under the pseudonym TM1way - earlier this week by posting a picture of the pair together on Instagram Read more: 21 Savage pays tribute after brother stabbed to death in south London View this post on Instagram A post shared by TheBig4L (@21savage) The musician wrote: "Can't believe somebody took you baby bro I know I took my anger out on you I wish I could take that s**t back." Paramedics and an air ambulance crew tried to save the 27-year-old but he was pronounced dead at the scene the Metropolitan Police said detectives investigating the fatal stabbing had charged a man with murder is due to appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Monday See more More Latest News See more Latest News See more The News Explained See more Royals See more Highlights & Opinion See more More Topics MURDER: Bernard Locke was sentenced to life in prison THE daughter of a Dublin man who was stabbed to death has told how she has been "robbed" of a father who "will miss out on my wedding and any children I may have" who was murdered in his flat almost two years ago explained how she no longer celebrates her birthday because of her grief and how she will "never have full closure" Ms Clifford's heartbreaking victim impact statement was read as Bernard Locke (41) was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday Locke pleaded guilty to Mr Jackson's murder on September 7 Prosecuting counsel Conor Devally SC delivered Ms Clifford's victim impact statement on her behalf "I feel that Bernard Locke robbed me of my father," her statement read "Dad will miss out on my wedding and any children that I may have "I no longer have my father in my life – no one will ever replace him "I will have to attend some form of counselling and will never have full closure "I do not go to church anymore and I find it upsetting going to the city centre It was two days after my 21st birthday when I heard – I don't celebrate it anymore (but) this court case is bringing back all the emotions and I can't go to court as a result "While I feel some comfort that he (Bernard Locke) was man enough to admit to the crime he will eventually be released from prison while my father is in the grave." The court heard that Locke had conceded that he was guilty of the attack immediately after being arrested "Mr Jackson's body was discovered in his own flat on Prussia Street wrapped in duvet covers," said Mr Devally "Mr Jackson had been the subject of multiple stabbings," he added he accepted responsibility that he had descended to the lower flat and had stabbed Mr Jackson through the heart severing a rather significant artery "He had brought Mr Jackson to the kitchen where between continuing to stab him "I will make it easy for you to understand" "Mr Locke said he found Mr Jackson annoying and that he was 'somebody with an attitude' Bernard Locke had stated Mr Jackson did nothing at the doorway to bring about being stabbed "Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis' description said that the first wound would have been enough to be fatal "There had been a mild fracture when the skull was penetrated and some wounds in the back going through to the lung area In his own evidence there had been in the region of 70 stab wounds." Mr Devally said that Bernard Locke had 40 previous convictions including one for assault causing serious harm in which he had used a knife said that Mr Locke had hoped that his guilty plea would be accepted as remorse Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced Bernard Locke to the mandatory sentence of imprisonment for life from 8 September 2012 Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel