THE 80TH anniversary of the D-Day landings is being commemorated across Warwick district next month.
Thursday June 6 marks 80 years since Operations Neptune and Overlord, the largest air, land, and sea invasion as the Allies sought to retake Western Europe from the Nazis.
Warwick district will be joining towns and cities across the country in commemorating the operation which saw over 209,000 Allied casualties.
At 8am, Warwick’s town crier, Michael Reddy, will read ‘The D-Day 80 Proclamation’ on the steps of Shire Hall.
Schools throughout the district will be reading the ‘D-Day Heroes’ poem at 11am, which tells the story of the planning and execution of the landings and honours those that took part.
The Leamington branch of the Royal British Legion will be holding a short service at the War Memorial on Euston Place at 11am.
From 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Kenilworth Town Council will be hosting a commemorative event at Kenilworth Castle featuring a ringing of church bells, a performance by school choirs, a piper and the lighting of a beacon in one of the castle’s towers.
And at 9.15pm, the district will join the nation in lighting the beacon at Newbold Comyn as The International Tribute is read by the chairman of Warwick District Council.
WDC’s armed forces covenant champion Coun Pam Redford said: “The bravery and sacrifice by so many on D-Day deserves to be recognised. The sheer scale of the operation, the largest in history, involved not only those landing on the beaches, but the many at home providing vital support. The nation came together when we needed them the most, so I am delighted that Warwick district will be joining the nation in commemorating all who fought so valiantly via land, air and sea, for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
Warwick’s military museums will also be marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day with various events, highlighting the stories of the local Regiments that took part.
The Fusilier Museum Warwick, which tells the story of the 350-year history of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, is holding a series of talks and a temporary exhibition to mark the Regiment’s contribution during D-Day.
A D-Day Commemoration event is being held at The Court House in Warwick on Saturday June 1, with a series of public talks including from military historian Peter Hart, exploring the role of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment during D-Day.
The commemoration event also offers an opportunity to see the museum’s temporary exhibition, “Ashore We Stumbled – The Royal Warwickshire Regiment and D-Day” which runs until Thursday September 19.
A temporary exhibition promoting the recently launched ‘Warwick Military Heritage Trail’ will be on display at the Visitor Information Centre in The Court House from June 1 to June 12, highlighting the unique military history and heritage offer in the town.
The Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum will also be displaying information on the vital role of the Warwickshire Yeomanry in Italy at the time the D-Day landings were taking place in France.
