D-Day 80

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Plans unveiled to mark D-Day's 80th anniversary

Major international commemorative events on both sides of the Channel will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

D-Day 80 will be a large-scale celebration of those who ran the gauntlet of Hitler’s vaunted Atlantic Wall and helped begin the liberation of western Europe from the Nazi yoke.

The Ministry of Defence will work with the Royal British Legion, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Normandy Memorial Trust to host commemorations worthy of the sacrifices made and the scale of the operation.

With the number of those who were there dwindling by the week, these are likely to be the last major commemorations attended by veterans/members of our Greatest Generation.

Continues at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... rsB4o_40BA

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Commemorating the heroes of the Battle of Normandy

The 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings
On 5 and 6 June this year, a series of major commemorations in the UK and France will honour the brave personnel who risked their lives for freedom and peace.

See - https://dday80.campaign.gov.uk/

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Royal Navy: HMS Medusa restored by sailors at HMS Collingwood in Gosport ahead of D-Day 80th anniversary

A historic warship that played a vital role in the Normandy landings in 1944 has been restored ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defen ... 3OzR1NdpvX

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Dear All,
Our Embassy in Moscow will host a small tribute to D-day soon, they asked me to provide them with something brief about a few of our veterans, here is what I offered them.
Note the photo from 2019 onboard HMSB.
Tim

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Dear All,
Here is a dit about the 10th DF, “where were you on D-day Dad?” very much abbreviated, with a selection of period photos you can choose from?
Not everyone was on the beach!
I wrote it this morning for the HMSB summer newsletter.
Tim

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A collection of extraordinary D-Day stories has been added to the D-Day 80 website.
From the Army officer who ‘saved D-Day’ to the only British medic on Omaha beach.
See https://dday80.campaign.gov.uk/home-pag ... y-stories/

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Royal Navy’s role in D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations revealed

Three days in June will put Portsmouth and the Royal Navy at the heart of 80th anniversary events remembering the Normandy landings.

A series of events spanning June 3-5 will be the focal point of national commemorations on this side of the Channel, before the focus shifts to Normandy and a string of acts of national and international remembrance from Pegasus Bridge in the east to the Cotentin Peninsula in the west.

Key to all events is passing the torch to a new generation so that the flame of freedom never dies out – the 80th is likely to be the last milestone anniversary marked in the presence of those who were there, the youngest of whom are now 98.

Despite the passing of years, many Normandy veterans are determined to make the pilgrimage either to Portsmouth or France for a last salute.
Continues https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... s-revealed

Extract:
The vintage aircraft will be back in the skies over Portsmouth the next morning, June 4, this time to salute a Brittany Ferries vessel carrying veterans over to France on behalf of the Royal British Legion to partake in anniversary events.

Simultaneously warships and merchant vessels in harbour will sound their sirens in tribute, while a flotilla of serving and vintage vessels – minehunter HMS Cattistock, patrol boats Trumpeter and Dasher, TS Royalist, WW2 motor launch HMS Medusa and tugs – are due to accompany the ferry, with the three RN warships continuing across the Channel to the Caen Canal to support the Parachute Regiment and ceremonies at Pegasus Bridge, the Allies first objective on D-Day.

The trio and their sailors will remain in France to support other ceremonies,
Also crossing the Channel on June 4 will be the 47 Commando personnel, whose landing craft will deliver a piper to the beaches on D-Day itself, before offloading a troop of marines to yomp along the Normandy shore to Port-en-Bessin… the village/harbour liberated by the unit’s forebears in 1944.

Also https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prim ... emorations