The 49th Division landed in Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord, on 12 June 1944. Barker was confident about the ability of his troops, and wrote in his diary on 2 June "I have a first class party to go with − I am satisfied that my chaps are in as good, if not better shape, than any others... It will be a grim business but what fun when we see the Boche start to crack. After all these years of waiting I wouldn't miss this for anything."