The few: How last of surviving D-Day veterans are heading to Normandy for 80th anniversary but dwindling numbers mean this year is final major milestone for those who fought in 1944

The last of the surviving D-Day veterans are heading to Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemorations but dwindling numbers mean this year is the last major milestone for those who fought in 1944. D-Day veteran Albert Keir, 98, from Bakewell, Derbyshire, watches from the deck of the Brittany Ferries ship Mont St Michel as it sails out of Portsmouth Harbour in the UK to Ouistreham, in Caen, France Normandy veteran Jimmy Justice waves from the deck of the Brittany Ferries ship Mont St Michel D-Day veteran Jack Mortimer, from Wakefield, gets emotional as he travels on the ship Royal Navy Commander Glen Hickson, D-Day veteran Jim Grant, Royal Navy Commodore John Voyce, and D-Day veteran Charles Horne, on board the Brittany Ferries ship D-Day veteran Richard Aldred salutes from the deck of the ship D-Day veteran Richard Aldred, who also travelled to Normandy today, pictured during the Second World War Royal Navy Commander Glen Hickson, D-Day veteran Jim Grant, and Royal Navy Commodore John Voyce, on board the Brittany Ferries ship World War II veterans are seen on the deck of the Mont St Michel cross-channel ferry The Brittany Ferries ship Mont St Michel passes the Round Tower as it sets sail from Portsmouth Harbour Victor Walker, 98, is among a number of veterans unable to travel to France this year due to his declining health 'I have been very lucky to have visited Normandy several times in previous years to remember. Veteran Ken Cooke, 98, said the 80th anniversary commemorations this week will be the last time he revisits Gold Beach where he landed as an 18-year-old on June 6, 1944. D-Day veteran Jim Grant on board the ship today D-Day veteran Albert Keir, 98, from Bakewell, Derbyshire, smiles from the deck D-Day veteran Jim Kelly, from Sutton Coldfield, looks out onto the water D-Day veteran Jim Kelly, who travelled to Normandy today via ferry, pictured during the Second World War 100-year-old D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, from Crewe, salutes on board the ship D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, who is now 100, pictured during the Second World War D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, 100, from Crewe, salutes as veteran Jack Mortimer from Wakefield, gets emotional D-Day veteran Albert Keir, 98, from Bakewell, Derbyshire, and Charlie Horne, 98, wave as they take a group photo D-Day veteran Jack Mortimer, from Wakefield, looks emotional on the ship D-Day veteran Arnie Salter, 98, from Warwickshire, on board the Brittany Ferry ship Mont St Michel D-Day veteran Ronald Hendrey, 98, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, speaks on board the Brittany Ferry ship D-Day veteran Ronald Hendrey, who is now 98, pictured during the Second World War Veteran Ken Cooke, 98, said the 80th anniversary commemorations this week will be the last time he revisits Gold Beach where he landed as an 18-year-old on June 6, 1944 'I stepped off into six inches of water.