North Tawton D-Day commemoration

North Tawton's 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations on June 6, 2024.

Transcript

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.

06:21you