Forum Topic

D Day furore

A couple of days ago I nearly posted to say I could  not find any DDay commemoration events in West London and could somebody point me in the right direction. I had been visiting the Cotswolds which was full of special events and vigils. I was surprised to see nothing here. I just reflected that Londoners just aren’t that into it and raising the subject would cause some  dismissive puzzlement on the forum. I think it is rather sad that there was nothing to be found locally but it might explain why it never occurred to the PMs young advisers to insist that he stayed for the whole event.

Jackie Elton ● 262d18 Comments

Hi Gail,I find myself agreeing with both points you’ve made. In particular the point about it being the last major anniversary that will have large numbers of veterans present.At least Rishi had the good grace to make a full and unreserved apology, saying that he got it wrong.

Andrew Jones ● 261d

"As a comparison, does anyone know/remember how the 70th anniversary of D-Day was celebrated/commemorated in London?"I think the significance of the 80th anniversary is that it is most probably the last major D-day anniversary which will be attended by veterans of the landings, who are now around 100 years old. Rishi Sunak should have stayed until the end of the ceremonies to commemorate the bravery of these young men - many of whom were only teenagers.

Gail Busza ● 261d

I hadn’t picked that up. Ah well, too late. Nothing in Hounslow. I think the reaction to Rishi has been somewhat extreme given that this wasn’t such a huge deal in many  parts of the UK. Nigel and friends making hay.

Jackie Elton ● 261d

You really are vile, you may not agree or like the Mayor but he was fairly and democratically elected by Londoners.

Vanessa Smith ● 261d

As a comparison, does anyone know/remember how the 70th anniversary of D-Day was celebrated/commemorated in London?

Andrew Jones ● 261d

And how true

Madeleine Hazard ● 261d

If found this on the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham websiteH&F is hosting two special events to mark the 80th anniversary of the Second World War’s pivotal military campaign in France, marking the fact that the planning for D-Day took place right here in Hammersmith.On Thursday 6 June at 9pm, H&F joined forces with communities across the UK for a commemorative beacon lighting. The ceremony took place in Hammersmith’s Lyric Square. And on Saturday 8 June, we are holding a free family day in St Paul’s Gardens, Hammersmith, from noon to 5pm, where, in 1944, Operation Overlord was finalised by Generals Montgomery and Eisenhower.

Sam Hearn ● 261d

As of the 2021 Census 37% of the 8.8m population of London were born outside the UK. Many more will be the children of people born outside the UK. For the country as a whole only 14.8% of the population were born outside the UK.For those without the direct experience of family members engaged in the D-Day Landings, or indeed of living through London's Blitz, the commemoration events are just about history and not something in anyway personal.There are around 700,000 people born in Poland living in London today. They are London's largest national minority. It is therefore appropriate at this time to remember the Polish ships and sailors that took part in the D-Day Landings, and the Polish airman who flew missions in support of the landings. The 1st Polish Armoured division landed soon after after D-Day and took part in the crucial closing of the Falaise's Gap in Normandy.       

Sam Hearn ● 261d

Yes he is

Steve Taylor ● 261d

Most countries get a public holiday for victory day. It seems we don't worry about the war as we used to. A person asked me some time ago why we were celebrating a 100 years since the war ended, when it finished in 1945. I explained it was the first world war. They told me they had never heard of that. If you don't do history at school how would you know they explained.

Nicholas Beard ● 261d

I agree with mostly all of the previous posts however there was one event I attended.HMS Belfast who was part of D Day fired a salute at 13.00 hrs to mark the day.As it happens I also saw her exercising her six inch guns and depth charges off Gib back in the Sixties. Impressive.

Adrian Irving ● 261d

'Well you have to consider what we have as Mayor of London!!!'How nasty.

Vanessa Smith ● 261d

Agreed, but none of the civic or church organisations put on anything. As a Londoner, there was nothing on offer.

Jackie Elton ● 261d

Well you have to consider what we have as Mayor of London!!!

Steve Taylor ● 261d

Agree with the OP.Yet there are BRITISH LEGION BRANCHESin both  Brentford and Chiswick ...so surely they were aware of the Day.Maybe folk celebrated the day for another reason ...it being the national FISH & CHIP DAY!

Jim Lawes ● 262d

Always commemorated where there are military personnel stationed, hence the vigils and events in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, as you witnessed,

N V Brooks ● 262d

Beacons lit all over the country, lamps for peace, services, just not near here.https://www.d-day80beacons.co.uk/.  Yet I read in one of the Sundays that one of the women  map makers still lives in Chiswick.

Jackie Elton ● 262d

Im not sure D day is properly commemorated here except in portsmouth but i could be wrong

Julian Pavey ● 262d