D-Day 80th Anniversary

The D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Along with the associated airborne operations, it marked the beginning of the liberation of France and western Europe.   

The 6 June 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The anniversary will remind us that we can never take peace for granted. It gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the sacrifices made on D-Day and the selfless courage of the veterans of Normandy.

National and local celebrations will take place to mark this important date and you can find details of what is taking place in Broxtowe below.

Events in Broxtowe

Just some of the events taking place to celebrate the D-Day 80th anniversary in Broxtowe Borough include:

More events will be added and if you are organising your own event, get in touch with civic@broxtowe.gov.uk to share details with us or list it on our online events calendar.

Activities you can do in the community/schools

• Make and decorate paper boats to represent the 7,000 vessels that took part in the landings.
• Make Union Jack flags
• Take part in the national reading of the ‘D-Day Heroes’(106KB, PDF, Opens in a new window), poem written by Roy Palmer Herald and Chelsea Pensioner, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea , at 11.00am on 6 June.
• Join the national initiative to serve fish, chips and mushy peas for lunch as a show of support to the fishermen who fished the seas avoiding the mines and the German submarines, along with the men and women who farmed the fields to keep the nation fed, not knowing if their loved ones would return.
• Organise a Beacon lighting ceremony on 6 June 2024 and undertake the The International Tribute (Opens in a new window) at 9.15pm in celebration of the ‘light of peace’ that emerged out of the darkness of war.
• Join the national Ringing out for Peace (Opens in a new window) – bellringers of the churches to ring the bells at 6.30pm to make a joyful noise together to mark the D-Day 80^th
• To take part with the D-Day 80 Lamp Light of Peace when the beacons and lamps all around the country on 6 June at 9.15pm to pause, reflect and thank. To order and purchase the lamp at www.lamplightofpeace.co.uk (Opens in a new window)
• Share any old photos from the time with us on Facebook and Twitter and using #BroxtoweD-Day80 or emailing civic@broxtowe.gov.uk

Please tag us in your images on our social media channels.

Alternatively send pictures of 1mb of less in size to civic@broxtowe.gov.uk or tag us on our social media channels. Images should only be sent to us with the written consent of those included.

WW2, Capture and Record Project

To commemorate the D-Day 80th Anniversary, Nottinghamshire County Council would like to capture and record the memories of those that lived through the Second World War in particular individual experiences of the Normandy Landings. Nottinghamshire residents over 90 with a family member or carer/friend are invited for afternoon tea at County Hall on Wednesday 12 June, 1.30pm – 4.00pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring along medals, photos and memorabilia of the era. To reserve a place, please contact Neil Bettison on 0115 977 2051 or at neil.bettison@nottscc.gov.uk

The following information required is:

• Full Name
• D.O.B.
• Service branch if any
• Town, Village
• District
• Carers full name
• Carers contact details