Remembering D-Day and the Battle of Normandy
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.
D-Day 80 commemorations
Legacies of D-Day exhibition, France and UK
- Date: From 6 June 2024
- Location: British Normandy Memorial, France and National Memorial Arboretum, UK
This year, we have produced an exhibition to honour the service and sacrifice of the D-Day Generation. Legacies of D-Day will be on display at the site of the British Normandy Memorial in France and at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire from 6 June.
The exhibition will be open to all members of the public, so please do come and visit us to commemorate the veterans of D-Day 80. Preview of the exhibition will also be available on our website from 13 May.
Commemorating D-Day 80
We have created resources to help our members and supporters commemorate D-Day 80 and other battles of 1944. We want people to make meaningful connections and celebrate the legacy of the whole D-Day generation.
RBL D-Day 80 events
RBL will be marking the 80th anniversary with events in the UK and Normandy on 5 and 6 June 2024, as well as with community events around the UK.
We are inviting Normandy veterans, families of the fallen, descendants of Normandy veterans, and members of the public to join us in commemorating D-Day 80. Please note registrations for all events have now closed.
1. National Memorial Arboretum D-Day 80 Service
The RBL will be hosting a service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum on 6 June 2024, at 2 pm to commemorate 80 years since the iconic D-Day landings.
- Date and time: 6 June 2024, at 2pm
- Location: National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire UK
Alongside the service, the RBL will be welcoming eligible D-Day and Normandy veterans and their families in a dedicated VIP area. Registration for this event has now closed. We appreciate your interest in our D-Day Commemorations.
The Arboretum will be open to the public as normal on Thursday 6 June, and visitors will be welcome to watch the D-Day 80 Service of Remembrance in the grounds. Visit the NMA D-Day 80 page or call 01283 245 100 for further information.
2. A Service of Commemoration to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings
- Date and time: 5 June 2024, at 5pm
- Location: Bayeux War Cemetery, France
The RBL will be holding an event on 5 June at Bayeux War Cemetery, at 5pm, which will be open to both Normandy and WW2 veterans, families of the fallen, and descendants of Normandy veterans.
Registration for this event has now closed. We appreciate your interest in our D-Day Commemorations.
For those who entered the public ballot, we will inform you of the outcome by 28 March. Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact our team at RemembranceEvents@britishlegion.org.uk.
3. British National Event to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings
- Date and time: 6 June 2024, daytime (time to be confirmed)
- Location: British Normandy Memorial, Ver-sur-Mer France
With the Ministry of Defence, the RBL will hold the British National Event to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings on 6 June at the British Normandy Memorial. This event will be broadcast on UK National Television and will be open to Normandy veterans and their guests.
Registration for this event has now closed. We appreciate your interest in our D-Day Commemorations.
If you previously entered the public ballot for these events, we will notify you of the outcome by 28 March. For any further inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the team at RemembranceEvents@britishlegion.org.uk.
About D-Day
Unprecedented coordination between Allied nations, and the intensive planning of engineers, meteorologists, logisticians and countless more, led to a force from 13 countries approaching Normandy in a 5000-vessel armada.
In the early hours of D-Day, 24,000 paratroopers and glider-borne troops landed behind German lines to provide tactical support. Massive naval and aerial bombardments attempted to supress the German defences and weaponry. Then a ground force of more than 130,000 troops came ashore on five beaches across a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast, with the first waves often facing intact defences. By the end of D-Day there had been 10,000 allied casualties. Yet this was only the beginning. The ensuing Battle of Normandy was to last into August and cost tens of thousands of lives as it defeated and repulsed the occupying German forces eastwards. It was a decisive success for the Allies and paved the way for the liberation of much of north west Europe.
