by Mick the Ram

The 6th of June 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord, better known as D-Day, which saw tens of thousands of soldiers cross the English Channel in the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare.

Their destination was to five beaches in Normandy, France, code named: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword, with the purpose of establishing a foothold in the country, before beginning the advance to liberate Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany.

It laid the foundations for victory on the Western Front, but it did come at a huge cost, as by the end of what is also sometimes referred to as “The Longest Day” there had been at least 10,000 allied casualties, with 4,414 confirmed dead.

To mark the occasion there are special commemorative services taking place, one of which has seen some of the very few surviving veterans of the operation, taken across to northern France for what will probably be their final salute to their fallen comrades. A visit to the Bayeux War Cemetery will form part of their trip.

There will be ceremonies taking place around the UK, particularly in the south coast ports and harbours; as well as at the UK’s National Memorial Arboretum.

The Royal Family are going to be represented at many of the memorials on both sides of the Channel and in order to involve the entire nation, villages, towns, and cities of all sizes are being asked to light beacons on the evening of the 6th.

Veterans make special trip

The 25 or so veterans who headed off to Normandy to attend the D-Day services in northern France were escorted across the Channel by vintage and serving Royal Navy warships. Several of the ships will remain in Normandy to take part in a separate commemoration to mark the capture of Pegasus Bridge, a strategic victory ahead of the landings.

The veterans have taken with them a commemorative torch from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that will feature prominently at a vigil in Bayeux on Wednesday 5 June.

Portsmouth kicks of commemorations

On the same day there will be a National Commemorative Event in Portsmouth, which will be attended by His Majesty King Charles III. It will recognise the valuable work that took place on the home front, as well as paying tribute to the men and women who took part in the Normandy landings.

The famous Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and The Red Arrows will also be making an appearance.

Emotional services

Then on 6 June, the anniversary of D-Day itself, the veterans will be invited as special guests to an event taking place at the British Normandy Memorial, set overlooking Gold Beach in Ver-sur-Mer, France, with a second appearance by the Red Arrows to salute a remarkable generation of heroes.

At the same time there will be a service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in the UK.

UK ports to hold own commemorations

A flotilla of vessels will be on show at Poole Harbour to recognise the occasion and the immense contribution of the town and nearby Southampton, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Weymouth, Portland, Torquay and Brixham.

There will be vintage entertainment and a display of military vehicles, together with exhibitions and memorial services to remember those that sadly never came back.

King in attendance

Despite his health issues, King Charles was not going to miss the commemorations and he will lead the tributes and remembrance of the remarkable sacrifices made by troops during the the historic military operation.

Alongside Queen Camilla, and in the company of The Prince of Wales, the King will be at the special event in Portsmouth on the 5th, before making his way over to the British Normandy Memorial for the service the following day.

Princess Anne heavily involved

At the Bayeux War Cemetery, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will join the Normandy veterans and French representatives and as President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), she will attend an annual service of remembrance at Bayeux Cathedral.

Additionally, in her role as the Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Regina Rifles, she will unveil a statue of a Second World War Canadian Royal Regina Rifleman, before attending a reception with members of the Regiment.

Further royal participation

The Prince of Wales will attend the Canadian commemorative ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer, hosted by the Government of Canada. He is expected to join Canadian D-Day and Second World War Veterans, as well as Canadian Armed Forces personnel, cadets, and wider youth representatives at the event.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will join veterans and their families at the Royal British Legion’s Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum. At 9.15pm

Beacons of respect

On 6 June, local communities throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories and those along the shorelines of Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches in Normandy, France, are being asked to light Beacons to observe respect for the bravery and sacrifice of the D-Day troops.

13 Countries represented amongst the landing troops

In one of the most decisive campaigns of World War 2, nearly 160,000 troops landed on the five beaches in Normandy on D-Day. They were drawn from 13 different countries: UK, US, Canada,  Australia, New Zealand, France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands Czechoslovakia, Greece, Norway and Rhodesia.

It took unprecedented coordination between all the Allied nations, and the intensive planning that called on the expertise of engineers, meteorologists, logisticians and many, many more.

Not all plain sailing

The invasion fleet, which was drawn from eight different navies and comprised of 6,939 vessels, had 1,213 warships and over 4,000 landing craft. The first of these reached the French coast at around 6.30am on 6 June 1944, but all did not go to plan with heavy losses, particularly at Omaha beach.

The aim had been for all the landing beaches to connect up, but in actual fact only two of them ((Juno and Gold) were linked by the end of the day.

Never to be forgotten

Nevertheless, D-Day was a decisive success and paved the way for 875,000 men to disembark onto French soil by the end of the month. The ensuing Battle of Normandy lasted into August and cost tens of thousands of lives, but eventually the occupying German forces were repelled.

It may have taken almost a full year before securing a total surrender, but D-Day was undoubtedly the major turning point and why those who were lost, deserve every tribute and lasting remembrance and gratitude.