RIP Granddad, I hope I made you proud': Social media users share touching D-Day stories of their WW2 fighter grandfathers who landed on Gold Beach and were shot at on Pegasus Bridge

Relatives have shared emotional D-Day stories on social media of their WW2 grandfathers who landed on Gold Beach and were injured or killed. 

Eighty years ago today on June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 British, Canadian and American troops landed in a combined naval, air and ground assault on Nazi-occupied France. 

After around 4,440 Allied troops died that day, many relatives have taken to social media to pay their respects to family members who served or even lost their lives on the historic day. 

One grandson posted a picture of his grandfather on X alongside the caption: '80 years ago this man, Tom Richards, my Grandad, was one of thousands landing on Gold Beach this morning. Thinking of him and also his mates that never came back and being ever thankful to them all, and all that fought.' 

A bereaved granddaughter wrote: 'Watching the D-Day commemorations and thinking of my grandad who went over just after - he was shot at Caen and saw his best friend die. What a sacrifice these young men made.' 

Do YOU or your family have any abiding memories of D-Day? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk 

A third said: '80 years ago today my Grandpa took the fearful journey to France. First off the landing craft with his jeep. Witnessed unspeakable things. Nearly died. I am unbelievably proud of him and grateful for the service of all those brave young soldiers who sacrificed so much.'  

It comes as a lone military piper played on Gold Beach this morning to mark the moment the first British troops stormed the Normandy coast on D-Day 80 years ago.

Pipe Major Trevor Macey-Lillie played Highland Laddie as he was carried to the beach at Arromanches on a Royal Marines amphibious landing craft flanked by service members.

It took place at the exact moment the first troops waded ashore as part of the Normandy landings in the battle to retake Europe from the Nazis all those years ago, and harkens back to a lone piper who played during the event itself and was never shot at.

Crowds gathered at the beach to view the reenactment, which took place in a picturesque sunrise - a far cry from the cloudy and rough seas that welcomed 25,000 soldiers who landed on the same stretch of coast in 1944. 

Among those present at Arromanches this morning is Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who joined others in paying tribute to those who lost their lives during what was the biggest seaborne invasion in military history.