This year is the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, the largest seaborne invasion in history. Alongside associated airborne operations, the date marks the beginning of the liberation of France and Western Europe.
The legacy left by the Second World War generation lives on in the freedom and democracy we have today. But as time passes, living memory of the battles that led to the liberation of Europe recedes. A recent poll conducted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has found that fewer than half of young adults know what D-Day is.
What is D-Day?
Many historians describe D-Day as the 'beginning of the end' of the Second World War. It represented the start of the Allied forces pushing back against the Nazi occupation of Europe.
6 June 1944 marked the beginning of Operation Overlord, which saw tens of thousands of soldiers embark from Portsmouth to cross the Channel, establishing a foothold across the French coast in order to begin the advance to liberate northwest Europe.
The invasion involved 153,110 troops, supported by 10,440 aircrafts and 6,330 ships, with thousands of paratroopers landing behind enemy lines to capture bridges, destroy coastal batteries and secure vital roads ahead of the main landings.
Allied troops landed over five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coastline. By the end of the first day, over 30,000 personnel had come ashore with more than 4,000 being killed.
For the next three months fighting raged in the towns and villages of Northern France. The fight for liberation would eventually involve more than two million allied personnel, with 72,000 making the ultimate sacrifice.
Remembering D-Day
The Royal British Legion (RBL) is recognised as a national champion of Remembrance in the UK. It is the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, with 180,000 members, 110,000 volunteers and a network of partners helping support veterans wherever and whenever it’s needed.
With the remaining D-Day veterans now in their late 90s or older, the work of organisations like RBL is crucial in preserving the legacy left by all who contributed to the liberation of Europe. Its commemorations ensure that the stories of as many veterans as possible - from across the UK, the Commonwealth, and the Allied Forces - can share their stories.
RBL will be marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day with events in the UK and Normandy on 5 and 6 June 2024, as well as with community events around the UK.
The charity has also curated a special exhibition honouring the service and sacrifice of the D-Day Generation. ‘Legacies of D-Day’ will be on display at the site of the British Normandy Memorial in France and at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire from 6 June. A preview of the exhibition is available on RBL’s website.
RBL will also be hosting a service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum on 6 June 2024.
Our fundraising partnership
This year is the eighth year of Golden Charter's fundraising partnership with RBL and its sister organisation, Poppyscotland. Over the past eight years, together with our funeral director network, we have raised over £750,000 for the armed forces community as RBL continue to serve servicemen and women, veterans and their families.
A £25 donation will be made to RBL for every eligible funeral plan sold by Golden Charter until 14 June.
All funds raised for RBL and Poppyscotland will help provide valuable support for the Armed Forces community.
