ON THURSDAY, June 6, the nation will come together to remember the tens of thousands of allied forces who gave service on D-Day 80 years ago and helped secure the peace we in the UK enjoy today.

From early morning church bells will ring out, special flags will be flown, schoolchildren will learn stories about their great-grandparents, town criers will proclaim the victory, the haunting sound of bagpipes will fill the air and, in a final gesture of homage, beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace will be lit to signify the light that emerged from the dreadful darkness of war.

Chard Town Crier, Stuart Cumming, will be joining hundreds of others wanting to remember the brave men and women who took part, not only from our country, but from America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Norway, Greece, France, Czechoslovakia, Rhodesia, and Poland too. Cllr Victoria Bates, Mayor of Chard, said to be able to play even a small part in paying tribute is humbling and a great honour.

She said: “We will be paying tribute to those who gave service on D-Day in a number of ways.

“Our Town Crier will read out his proclamation at 8:00 from the balcony of the Guildhall then at 9am the official D-Day Flag of Peace will be raised.

“At 6.30pm St. Mary’s Church bell ringers will be ringing out for peace.

“Our main event begins from 7pm, where we have approached various local groups integral to the town to join us at the beacon and put on an exhibit.

“We’ll also have some live music, taking us up to the international tribute and the lighting of the beacon. I am looking forward to seeing it all come together and we hope for a great turnout from the local residents.”

Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR Pageantmaster of D-Day80, and of the 80-day countdown to June 6, 2024, said: “In 1944 Allied forces mounted the largest amphibious invasion the world has ever witnessed.

“Operation Overlord, D-Day, saw over 5,000 ships and landing craft set down more than 150,000 troops on the five Normandy beaches that would bring about the liberation of north-west Europe from Nazi occupation.

“In order to commemorate the peace and freedom given to us through the bravery and ultimate sacrifice of so many thousands involved in the D-Day landings, and throughout the whole of WW11, beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace will be lit across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories - and in a very poignant and unique gesture, a special Lamp Lights of Peace lamps will be lit on each of the five beaches in Normandy, at 9.15pm local time that night, to coincide with the lighting of beacons at that time too.

“However, at 9.10pm, as night descends - and just before the beacons ignite - the resonant sound of bagpipes will be heard across the capital cities of London, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Cardiff.

“We will also have a presence in the capital cities of the Allied nations that took part. From Washington DC to the distant shores of New Zealand’s Auckland, from Ottawa to Paris, and from Canberra to Brussels, Athens, and Amsterdam, Oslo, Warsaw, and Prague.

“The light from the flames from the lamps and the beacons will represent the ‘light of peace’ that emerged from the darkness of war, with the lamp providing a very simple, safe, unique, and cost-effective way of taking part in this important 80th anniversary occasion, especially as once used, can be lit again at 11am on every Remembrance Sunday thereafter, in tribute to the many millions that sacrificed their lives during WWII.”