D-Day 80th anniversary events UK
On Tuesday 6 June 1944, over 150,000 Allied troops landed by sea and air on five beaches in Normandy, France (Gazette issue 38110). Codenamed Operation Overlord, D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion ever assembled, before or since, and was the start of an Allied campaign in north-west Europe which would ultimately liberate Western Europe and end World War 2.
Below we’ve listed some of the biggest events happening in the UK which will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
The UK national D-Day event, Portsmouth
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Date |
Wednesday 5 June 2024 |
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Location |
Southsea Common, 29 Osborne Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 3LR. |
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Website |
Portsmouth will be at the centre of the UK’s national commemorations for D-Day 80 this June. On 5 June, the date that many soldiers set off from Portsmouth, an event on Southsea Common will see thousands of members of the public join D-Day veterans and VIP guests to mark the anniversary. The commemoration - which will be broadcast live on the BBC - will have at its heart the personal stories and reflections of D-Day veterans. There will also be performances from military musicians, a Royal Air Force flypast, and moving tributes from special guests.
D-Day 80 Service, National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire
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Date |
Thursday 6 June 2024 |
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Location |
National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Rd, Burton-on-Trent, DE13 7AR. |
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Website |
The Royal British Legion will be hosting a service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum on Thursday 6 June 2024 at 2 pm to commemorate 80 years since the iconic D-Day landings. The Arboretum will be open to the public as normal, and visitors can watch the Service of Remembrance in the grounds. There will also be a dedicated VIP area for eligible D-Day and Normandy veterans and their families.
Duxford Summer Air Show: D-Day 80, IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire
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Date |
Saturday 1 June & Sunday 2 June 2024 |
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Location |
IWM Duxford Airfield, Cambridge, CB22 4QR. |
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Website |
The Imperial War Museums will be hosting a unique experience at IWM Duxford with this year's Duxford Summer Air Show, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. This significant anniversary will be honoured with the arrival of a fleet of historic Dakotas, the iconic aircraft of the D-Day landings, gracing the skies of Duxford for a series of spectacular flypasts throughout the weekend and a grand historic parachute drop on Saturday 1 June over the airfield.
D-Day Weekend, Royal Air Force Museum, London
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Date |
Saturday 1 June & Sunday 2 June 2024 |
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Location |
Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5LL. |
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Website |
The RAF Museum London will be marking the D-Day anniversary with a weekend long celebration of 1940s-themed music, dancing, talks, children’s activities and more. This is free for all and will be taking place from 10am to 5pm outside on the airfield.
The Days After D-Day, National Army Museum, London
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Date |
Friday 7 June 2024 |
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Location |
National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, London, SW3 4HT. |
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Website |
Dr Glyn Prysor discusses the Battle for Normandy with Professor Jonathan Fennell, examining the Allied advance that followed on from the historic D-Day landings. In conversation with Professor Jonathan Fennell, the talk will examine how British forces worked to liberate France and the challenges they faced in supplying such an endeavour. Dr Glyn Prysor will also look at how they managed to achieve a breakthrough, despite being surrounded on all sides by enemy forces, in what was a do-or-die moment for the Allied war effort.
See also
How to search The Gazette for soldiers, promotions and medals
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Publication date
7 May 2024
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