This June 2024, D-Day commemorations marked the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings in June 1944.
The D-Day landings of 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.
In Essex, many communities organised commemorative events and kindly invited HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex.
Wherever possible, these events were attended by Deputy-Lieutenants because, very early in the year, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex had been invited to join The Essex Regiment and Colchester Garrison to commemorate the occasion in Normandy. Scroll down to read her diary of the three day visit.
Wednesday 5th June 2024
The first event we attended was The Memorial Pegasus.
This was a Service of Remembrance at the Pegasus Museum, Ranville, next to Pegasus Bridge, with the Pegasus Pipes and Drums and massed Band of Pegasus Memorial and the Royal Irish Bugles Pipes and Drums.
Many veterans, both from the UK and the USA, and senior representatives of the Navy, Army and Airforce were present. The first wreath was laid by Lt General Andy Harrison DSO MBE Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment. It was a moving and much appreciated ceremony.
A visit to the museum and the land between the River Orne and the canal tells the story of the daring glider assault minutes after midnight on the 6th of June, thus securing this vital river crossing.
Later that day we went to the Pegasus Landing Event.
Paratroopers, many from Colchester including the Brigade Commander Brigadier Mark Berry, parachuted into a field at Sannerville near Caen.
This was a spectacular sight and General Andy Harrison introduced me to many people, including some of the paratroopers as they came out of the fields carrying their packs. It was a great privilege.
Thursday 6th June 2024
We spent the day doing a recce for the events to be held the next day at Bayeux, Tilly-sur-Seulles and Lingevres commemorating the Essex Regiment.
We visited various immaculately kept cemeteries and a small local museum in Tilly which vividly showed what the local inhabitants went through.
We also laid some roses in Audrieu on the tomb of the godfather of a friend of mine who had helped me with translating my speech into French and which I was going to need for the three events the next day. Her Godfather, Philippe Livry-Level, was a remarkable man, Croix de Guerre and many other decorations, the owner of the beautiful Chateau Audrieu, airman and resistance fighter. To our surprise we also found the story of his life and exploits exhibited in the Tilly Museum.
In Bayeux we got our bearings and visited the Cathedral as the Red Arrows flew over. The Gendarmerie had been mobilised extensively there and elsewhere. They were particularly noticeable on bridges over the major roads and we saw many tracks and roads blocked sometimes with tractors. Vehicles with blacked out windows and outriders sped by, but all in all the security was carried out with great good humour. We had been issued with passes so it was not too much of a problem.
Friday 7th June 2024
Today was the day of the three commemoration events that I had come to attend.
The first was in the village of Tilly-sur-Seulles now rebuilt, but which had been very damaged in the battle when the Essex Regiment and others fought to secure a strategic position south of Bayeux in the weeks that followed D-Day.
The second commemoration was a ceremony at a memorial named Essex Wood where further considerable loss of life occurred.
The main event took place in Bayeux to commemorate the the day after D-Day when The 2nd Battalion, The Essex Regiment and The Sherwood Rangers liberated the city of Bayeux, the first town to be liberated in France. This is something that is remembered every year at a very special ceremony held by the memorial in the grounds of the Museum of the Battle of Normandy.
All three ceremonies, although varying in scale, were done beautifully, with addresses being made and the act of remembrance being carried out as we would in the UK, followed by the laying of wreaths. There were Buglers and Standard bearers and young people involved, particularly in Bayeux. I had been asked by His Majesty the King to pass on his very best wishes and to recognise the courageous contribution made by the local population in supporting our forces in the liberation of Normandy.
Colonel Charles Thomas, Essex DL who normally deputises for me at the annual Normandy memorials, was also present at the three ceremonies in his capacity as County Colonel of the Royal Anglian Regiment.
It was a very special visit and I felt extremely fortunate to have been able to go.
About The Lord Lieutenant of Essex
His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Essex is Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, appointed in 2017. She is His Majesty the King’s personal representative in the county.
The main duty of the Lord-Lieutenant is to uphold the dignity of the Crown in Essex, including encouraging voluntary service and benevolent organisations, helping to create a spirit of co-operation in the county, supporting business and industry and the social life of Essex.
The appointment is non-political and unpaid.
Find out more about the role of a Lord-Lieutenant and the Lieutenancy >
Find out about a Day in the Life of HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex >
If you would like to invite HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex to attend an event, please contact the Lieutenancy office here >
