To mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Post Office is printing a commemorative collection of eight stamps honouring all the Manx people involved in the landings along the Normandy coast.

On June 6, 1944, Operation Neptune, commonly known as D-Day, launched the Battle of Normandy (Operation Overlord) along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces started the largest seaborne invasion in history.

At the outset of the Second World War 10 of the Steam Packet’s ships were commandeered by the Admiralty.

Four were lost but throughout the war they made a significant contribution to bring the war to a conclusion in 1945.

Three of the vessels, Lady of Mann I, Victoria and Ben-My-Chree IV, which saw action on D-Day, feature on the first class stamps.

The stamps also depict the military leaders of the Allied Forces.

They include:

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, US Army, Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF).

Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Tedder RAF, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander.

Lt-Gen Omar Bradley, US Army, Commander 1st US Army.

General Sir Bernard Montgomery, British Army, Commander 21st Army Group.

Major General Walter Bedell Smith, US Army, Chief of Staff.

Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey, Royal Navy, Commander Allied Naval Expeditionary Force.

Air Chief Marshall Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Royal Air Force, Commander in Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force and also in command of the landing phase for Operation Overlord.

Lt-Gen Sir Miles Dempsey, Commander 2nd British Army.

Maxine Cannon, Isle of Man Stamps and Coins general manager said: ’The Spirit of Normandy Trust, who provide financial assistance for veterans of the three Services who served in Normandy, France during the Second World War, is a charity close to our hearts and we are proud to have been working with them on this special stamp collection.

The sacrifices made by the brave men and women who fought in WWII should never be forgotten, which is why we felt it important and are honoured to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.’