6TH JUNE 2024
THE LARGEST NAVAL, AIR AND LAND OPERATION IN HISTORY
In association with The Normandy Memorial Trust, The Royal Naval Association, ABF The Soldiers Charity, RAF Benevolent Fund & The Merchant Navy Association
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
I am honoured to support the 80th anniversary celebrations to commemorate D-Day.
D-Day on 6 June 1944 was the largest Naval, Air and land Operation in history, involving many hundreds of thousands of brave men who had to leave their families at home, not knowing if they would ever return home, a feat we hope will never have to take place
again.
The heroism of those who landed on the shores of the Normandy beaches, represented a beacon of light for the world during a particularly dark period of war. It is therefore fitting that 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, should light Beacons on 6 June 2024, in 'tribute to the light of peace that they brought out from the misery of darkness during that dreadful campaign, of which many unfortunately did not return.
1 am therefore delighted to support this initiative and I urge communities across the country to support this event. I would like to pay particular tribute to Pageantmaster, Bruno Peek for his tremendous efforts in leading these historic celebrations. It also gives me great pleasure in congratulating The Royal Naval Association, The Merchant Navy Association, The Royal Airforce Benevolent Fund and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for their remarkable efforts in supporting our service personnel, along with their families.
As we look forward to the future, I believe we should take strength from the shared hardship of our experience during World War II. That future is why so many of our service men gave their lives - and protecting the peace they fought for is the greatest way
we can honour those who fell.
Rishi Sunak
February 2023
Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster
INTRODUCTION
The 6th of June 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces mounted the largest amphibious invasion the world has ever witnessed. In 1944 Operation Overlord saw over 5,000 ships and landing craft set down more than 130,000 troops on five Normandy beaches in an action that would bring about the liberation of north-west Europe from Nazi occupation.
The bravery and sacrifice of those people in securing the peace and freedom we enjoy today will be observed by the lighting of beacons around the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories. I hope your community will join us.
We are asking villages, towns, cities and organisations of all sizes to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day by lighting a beacon at 9.15pm on 6th June 2024, followed by an event to commemorate one of the most momentous achievements in living memory. Your event could be devoted to raising valuable funds for The Royal Naval Association, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and The Merchant Navy Association.
It is our country’s opportunity to remember the 210,000 Allied casualties of Operation Overlord. This includes nearly 37,000 ground forces and 16,000 air forces killed in the invasion of Normandy’s Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches, and the long and bloody campaign that followed. We plan to light beacons on all five beaches to remember those who died or came home wounded.
Download the Guide to Taking Part here.
The statistics behind the successful operation, which eventually convinced the Nazi high command that their defeat was inevitable, are both shocking and awe inspiring. German defence forces were drawn away from Normandy by distraction tactics as resources were secretly built up on the English coast.
Nine million tonnes of supplies and equipment were shipped across the Atlantic and 1.4 million American servicemen arrived to join a substantial contingent of Canadian forces. By 1944 over two million troops from 12 countries were in Britain preparing for the invasion. On D-Day, American, British and Canadian troops were augmented by personnel from Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, France, Greece, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia and Poland. Soon after midnight on 6th June, more than 180,000 Allied paratroopers were dropped into the invasion area, and Allied air crews flew over 14,000 sorties to support the landings.
Operation Neptune, the naval phase of the campaign, saw nearly 7,000 vessels, including battleships, destroyers, minesweepers and assault craft, escorting and landing the ground troops on the beaches and bombarding German coastal defences.
Air plan for landings in Normandy June 1944.
There were approximately 156,000 Allied troops that landed in Normandy by sea and air on D-Day, of whom around 130,000 landed on the beaches, so you might be surprised to learn that despite the extraordinary courage displayed by so many on 6th June 1944, just one Victoria Cross was awarded. It went to Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis of the 6th Battalion, The Green Howards, who landed on Gold Beach. During an intense day of fighting, Stan Hollis took two enemy pillboxes and a field gun and crew, capturing 30 Germans single-handedly. The citation for the Yorkshireman’s VC, presented by King George VI, says:
“It was largely through his heroism and resource that the Company’s objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier, and by his own bravery he saved the lives of many of his men”
Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis VC. © Imperial War Museum.
Already battle-hardened at the age of 31, Stan should have been one of the most famous soldiers of WW2 but was a naturally modest man and after the war worked in a number of trades before becoming a publican.
His earliest job was working in his father’s fish and chip shop in Robin Hood’s Bay. Fittingly, fish and chips will play a major part in the D-Day 80 commemorations. They were never rationed during the war and the words were even used as code by British paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines to identify friendly soldiers nearby – one calling out ‘fish’ and hopefully getting the reply ‘chips’.
Thanks to the generous support and involvement of the National Federation of Fish Friers, thousands of fish and chip shops around the United Kingdom will take part in the day’s
activities. Schools, pubs, hotels and restaurants etc, are also encouraged to get involved by serving up this great British tradition in tribute to those who gave so much, and to raise valuable funds for the four charities involved.
The International 80th Anniversary D-Day Beacon will be lit in Normandy at 8.15pm (British Summer Time), at the British Normandy Memorial overlooking Gold Beach, with the other Beacons located on Utah, Omaha, Juno and Sword beaches being lit at 8.30pm BST, followed by the Principal United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man Beacon at Portsmouth, England at 9.15pm BST. As the Beacons are lit, we would ask all communities in France and the UK to stop what they are doing and undertake The International Tribute. This could be undertaken by your Lord Mayor, Mayor, High Steward, Town and Parish Clerk, Town Crier, Pub Landlord or even a young person from one of your local youth organisations etc, paying their tribute to those who gave so much to enable us to enjoy the many years of peace and freedom we have enjoyed since the Second World War.
D-Day was a monumental campaign to rid Europe of Nazi horror, and the 80th anniversary of this remarkable operation deserves the recognition and gratitude of our country. Please join us on 6th June 2024 to commemorate the sacrifices made by so many in our name.
Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR Pageantmaster
D-Day 80 Anniversary 6 June 2024
