North Tawton's 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations on June 6, 2024.
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00:00The operation of the 6th of June 1944 brought together the land, air and sea forces of Allied
00:10armies in what was now known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. On
00:17Tuesday the 6th of June, Operation Overlord began. In addition to those from the United
00:23Kingdom, D-Day forces included soldiers, sailors and airmen from the United States of America,
00:31Canada, Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
00:38Poland and others. The D-Day invasion was planned for the 5th of June, however in true British
00:45fashion the weather was too bad for ships to sail. The landings were on five beaches coded name
00:51Sword, Juno, Gold, Omar and Uttar. There were about 4,500 Allied personnel killed,
00:585,000 wounded on D-Day. The Battle of Normandy cost the Allies at least 73,000 killed,
01:05153,000 wounded. The German cost was about 23,000 killed, 67,000 wounded and around 200,000
01:15captured. There are 61 names on our war memorial. A lot of good men lost their
01:22lives that day so we could have the lives that we have today. We will remember it.
01:30Good morning, I'm Kevin James, ex-Sergeant from Devon Army Cadet Force and the importance of
01:39D-Day to me is that we have our life today for those that gave their life during World War II
01:47and other conflicts throughout the world, past and present. We must never forget their sacrifices
01:54for the lives that we have today. Normandy by Juno veteran Cyril Crane. Come and stand in memory
02:05of men who fought and died. They gave their lives in Normandy, remember them with pride.
02:14Soldiers, airmen, sailors, airborne and marines, who in civil life were tailors and men who worked
02:22machines. British and Canadian and men from USA, forces from the Commonwealth, they all were there
02:31that day. To Juno, Sword and Utah, beaches of renown, also Gold and Omaha, that's where the
02:41ramps went down. The battle raged in Normandy, many lives were lost. The war must end in victory
02:51and this must be the cost. When my life is over and I reach the other side, I'll meet my friends
02:59from Normandy and shake their hands with pride. Corporal Ian Mansfield, retired Royal Air Force.
03:07I served from 1919 to 2012. D-Day is important for me because my grandfather, who was a Royal Naval
03:13Signaller, Signaller Albert Day, Royal Navy, went ashore at Omaha Beach on a landing ship tank
03:21to provide shore to ship communications via semaphore and morse code. It's important to
03:28remember this event for future generations. My name is Steve Whitely, I'm Chairman of North
03:35Tornton Town Council and we're here today to, not celebrate exactly, but to commemorate
03:43those who gave their lives 80 years ago so we can live in a free country.
03:50Board of the Nations, as we commemorate this anniversary of D-Day, we honour the bravery
03:56and sacrifice of those who served on D-Day and throughout World War II. We also remember
04:02with thanksgiving the collaboration between the Allied forces and those who planned and
04:08oversaw the Normandy landings and subsequent operations. Grant us similar courage to recognise
04:14and restrain evil in our own day and may those who lead the nations of the world work together
04:21to defend human liberty that we may live peaceably with one another.
04:26This we ask in the name of the Prince of Peace, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
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