D-Day – the 80th Anniversary remembered by the Company
We at the Plumbers’ Company pay tribute to all those who took part in the D-Day landings and the subsequent conflict: those who died, those who were injured, and those who survived to live with the memories.
D-Day, on 6th June 1944, was the name given to the invasion of the beaches at Normandy, in northern France, by troops from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and other allied countries during World War Two.
At the time, France was occupied by the armies of Nazi Germany, and the amphibious assault, codenamed Operation Overlord, landed some 156,000 Allied soldiers on the beaches of Normandy by the end of the day.
Despite their success, some 4,000 Allied troops were killed by enemy soldiers defending the beaches.
The D-Day invasion was the largest naval, air, and land operation in history, and within a few days about 326,000 troops, more than 50,000 vehicles and some 100,000 tons of equipment had landed. By August 1944, northern France had been liberated, and in the Spring of 1945 the Allies had defeated the enemy.
Historians often refer to D-Day as the beginning of the end of World War Two, and it remains one of the most significant events in the history of warfare.
The Plumbers’ Company is proud the of its historic military affiliations. Today, this is demonstrated through our Armed Forces Awards presented annually to the top student at each of the three single-service engineering colleges, and through our links with three service cadet organisations: Richmond Sea Cadet unit; Army cadets 23 Cadet Detachment (Royal Engineers) in Islington; and No. 1147 Air Cadet Squadron in Barking, London.
On 11th November, every year, we pay a debt of gratitude to all the brave men and women who have fallen in service to their country in conflicts to protect our freedom. Many members of the Plumbers’ Company, and their families and friends, will have served this country and its allies with distinction.
To mark the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day on 6th June 2024, we commemorate all those who defended the UK in the challenging years that followed Dunkirk in 1940, and who, in collective acts of ingenuity, commitment, and strength permitted the UK to go on the offensive in June 1944 to begin the liberation of Europe from the tyranny of the Nazis.
There have been a number of articles written within the Plumbers’ Company about the service of our Liverymen and their families. For example, see the article entitled “100 years since World War 1; 70 Years since World War 2″ dated 9th November 2016 in the News from 2016 Archive, where you may read about Liveryman Aubrey C F Hill and others.
YOUR MEMORIES: do you have any recollections about the military service of Liverymen, or their family and friends? Please get in touch with me or with Hon. Archivist Michael Cooper if you have any information that we might collate and share.
With thanks,
David Adams
Master