威廉王子 | 2024年诺曼底登陆80周年纪念日致辞

I am deeply honoured to join you today to recognise the bravery of all of those like John Haddock who participated in the D-Day landings, the start of the liberation of France and Europe, that led to victory of the Allied Powers.今天，我非常荣幸能和大家一起感谢像约翰·阿道克这样参加过诺曼底登陆的所有英勇人士，诺曼底登陆是解放法国和欧洲的开始，最终让同盟国取得了胜利。
Our guests of honour today are those veterans from the Normandy landing, that came from across our nation and from all walks of life to join in the fight against tyranny.我们今天的嘉宾是参加过诺曼底登陆的老兵，他们来自全国各地和各行各业，而且参加过各种反抗暴政的斗争。
Many of those that took up arms had never seen combat before, some were still only in their teens. In their letters and diaries, we see their great strength.许多拿起武器的战士以前从未见过战斗，有些人甚至只有十几岁。在他们的信件和日记中，我们看到了他们强大的力量。
This is an extract from a letter by Captain Alastair Bannerman, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, addressed to his wife and written in his diary on the morning of D-Day.这是英国皇家沃里克郡团阿拉斯泰尔·班纳曼上尉写给妻子的一封信的节选，这封信是他在 诺曼底登陆当天早上写在日记里的。
It is now 03.00 hours in the morning and I have just been up to the bridge. It is rather light because the moon is shining, though heavy clouds cover her. One can see the row of small ships and of darker balloons silhouetted in front and behind us against the grey sea.现在是凌晨3时，我刚刚登上大桥。虽然乌云密布，但月光还是很亮。在灰蒙蒙的海面上，可以看到我们前后的一排排小船和颜色较深的气球的轮廓。
You, my angel, sleep gently in the nursery, I hope. Your thoughts have helped me so much. They have given me real strength. I can imagine how you listen to the news at 9 o’clock and think of me with love.你，我的小天使，希望你在婴儿房里能安然入睡。你的思念帮了我很多，给了我真正的力量。我能想象你在早上九点钟听着新闻，满怀爱意地思念我的样子。
I hope that Andrew’s golden head rests gently and quietly upon his small pillow and that Richard is nice and comfortable lying in his narrow little carry-cot.我希望此刻安德鲁的金发脑袋轻柔安静地靠在他的小枕头上，而理查德舒服地躺在他小小的摇篮里。
A long line of flares hangs over Cherbourg, or I suppose it is Cherbourg, and a few anti-aircraft tracer shots go up in the air above the immediate front line. Funny to imagine that there Germans run around their guns. I would like to know what they are thinking.一长串照明弹停悬在瑟堡上空，我想应该是瑟堡，几发高射炮曳光弹在前线上空划过。想象一下德国人拿着枪跑来跑去滑稽的样子真有趣，我想知道他们现在在想什么。
The whole Channel between us and Cherbourg is filled with little ships which all quietly and efficiently sail towards France. The British, Canadian and American fighting forces on the war-path.我们和瑟堡之间的整个英吉利海峡上停满了小船，它们都安静快速地驶向法国。英国、加拿大和美国的部队在为战斗准备。
I do not believe that I can now write for very long. We can now see the French coast and very soon we will have to play our part.我没有太多时间可以写更多了。现在可以看到法国海岸了，很快就到我们执行战斗任务了。
I must go now and look for the landing markings with my binoculars to ascertain our landing points. So, my darling, on we go! I know that you are with me. Au revoir, God bless, I love you!我现在得用望远镜寻找登陆标记，以确定我们的登陆位置。亲爱的，我们出发吧！我知道你与我同在！ 再见，上帝保佑，我爱你！
Captain Bannerman survived the landings and the war, being taken prisoner and returning home to his wife and sons in April the next year. Too many never returned. They remain in 'some corner of a foreign field that is forever England.班纳曼上尉在登陆和战争中幸存下来，被俘后于第二年四月回到家中与妻儿团聚。但太多的人再也没有回来，他们留在了“永远属于英格兰异国战场的某个角落”。
We will always remember those who served and those who waved them off. The mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters who watched their loved ones go into battle, unsure if they would ever return.那些父母、兄弟姐妹、儿女，他们看着亲人上战场，不确定他们是否还会回来。我们将永远记住那些为国捐躯的人和那些挥手让他们远征的人。
Today we remember the bravery of those who crossed this sea to liberate Europe. Those who ensured that Operation Overlord was a success. And those who waited for their safe return.今天，我们缅怀那些漂洋过海解放欧洲的英勇战士。那些确保“霸王行动”成功的人们，还有那些等待他们安全归来的人们。