THE Bolton Evening News obviously had a superb communications link back in 1944 for it was able to report on D-Day on the actual day it happened.

Interestingly, there was no mention of the term ‘D-Day’ in our front page story from June 6, 1944, instead, it referred to “the landings in Normandy”.

We reported how prime minister Winston Churchill said: “An immense armada of upwards of 4,000 ships with several thousand smaller craft have crossed the Channel. Massed airborne landings have been successfully effected behind enemy’s lines.”

He added: “The Anglo-American Allies are sustained by about 11,000 first-line aircraft which can be drawn upon as may be needed for the purposes of the battle.”

The amount of information the story revealed was extensive, however, there was no doubt much more that was kept from our readers.

General Montgomery warned correspondents: “You may find that for the first few days the censorship will be very strict and my advice is this: in the first few days it would be far better to confine yourself to what you see going on, describing what the soldiers are doing, and not attempt to tell how the battle as a whole is going or what is likely to happen.”

He went on to say that he did not think the German high command was as good as it had been and that he felt Rommel was “too impulsive”.

Our report described how the landings began at 6am following the greatest minesweeping operation in history.

We also reported how before the troops embarked on their mission, General Eisenhower gave a rousing speech, telling them: “The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of Liberty loving people everywhere march with you...The tide has turned.”

The edition also included details of Allied troops making progress in Italy and of a visit to Britain by the French president.