On the 6th June this year the world will honour the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Nearly 160,000 allied troops crossed the Channel that day, and almost 900,000 had landed by the end of June. At least 4,414 Allied soldiers were confirmed dead, but casualties are estimated to be over 10,000. Some 4,000 to 9,000 German soldiers are thought to have lost their lives.

The extraordinary bravery of many soldiers that day is often recognised on a collective level. Yet it’s most powerfully captured in the stories of individual acts of courage, of unique friendships and family that translate across generations.

The Second World War was a period of history that many of us learned about at school, marvelling at grainy footage and appalled by what we saw. It’s a history however that deserves to be remembered not least by the children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren of those who fought.

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle’s latest campaign from CLICKON explores one such individual’s remarkable history through the eyes of his son and great grandson. To commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the invasion, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle followed Barry Parr and Jack Philips as they discovered the history of Wally Parr, their father and great-grandfather respectively.

Wally, who was a soldier in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, was just 22-years-old on the first day of the D-Day invasion, when he became part of Operation Deadstick, a mission which included an assault on Pegasus Bridge over the River Orn. The film’s title, ‘Ham and Jam’ was the code word sent over the radio to confirm the Operation had been a success and the bridges were intact. Wally and the rest of his regiment were tasked with holding the bridge until relief arrived the next day.

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle’s campaign follows Barry as he takes Jack on his first trip to Normandy to see the Pegasus Bridge and to learn more about his great-grandfather’s involvement in the war. The film contrasts the stillness of the live footage of the river and Barry and Jack’s conversations as they travel with a stop motion black and white animated re-enactment of the battle.

Remembering the historic collaboration of the D-Day landings comes at a complex time for travel brands such as Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. The looming spectre of Brexit raises a wealth of challenges and what exactly it will mean for EU travel remains to be seen. In this ecosystem, the importance of understanding and recognising our shared history appears particularly poignant. As Eurotunnel Le Shuttle have proclaimed in previous ads, they’re determined to ‘Brexit-proof’ your holidays. If they can’t guarantee to do that, what they can do is help you discover your heritage.