D-Day 8o - 6th June 2024
80th Anniversary commemorations.
Welcome everyone to today 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings. By 1944, over 2 million troops from over 12 countries were in Britain in preparation for the invasion.
Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied France and Western Europe during World War II.
The operation began shortly after midnight on 6 June, with over 1,200 aircraft involved, with over 13,000 American paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" along with 5,000 allied paratroopers who were dropped into the invasion area to provide tactical support for infantry divisions on the beaches.
At 3.35am: the RAF heavy bombers, attack a range of targets across the whole landing area, including German coastal gun batteries.
This was followed by the Allied warships at 5:30am, which began bombarding German coastal gun batteries and artillery positions at Gold and Sword beaches.
Between 5.36am - 5.52am: Warships exchange fire with German defences at the remaining three beaches; first Utah, then Omaha, then Juno.
Then at 6am: Support landing craft begin firing guns and rockets at beach defences.
Nearly 7,000 naval vessels, including battleships, destroyers, minesweepers, escorts and assault craft, took part in Operation 'Neptune', the naval component of 'Overlord'.
Navel forces were responsible for escorting and landing of over 150,000 ground troops on the beaches.
The landings began at 6:30am and continued on for the next one and a half hours.
By the end of August all 2 million troops had been carried across the English Channel to the shores of Normandy.
I, along with 370 other town criers from around the world, have been given the honour of starting off the events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing with the reading of the D-Day80 proclamation.
Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied France and Western Europe during World War II.
The operation began shortly after midnight on 6 June, with over 1,200 aircraft involved, with over 13,000 American paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" along with 5,000 allied paratroopers who were dropped into the invasion area to provide tactical support for infantry divisions on the beaches.
At 3.35am: the RAF heavy bombers, attack a range of targets across the whole landing area, including German coastal gun batteries.
This was followed by the Allied warships at 5:30am, which began bombarding German coastal gun batteries and artillery positions at Gold and Sword beaches.
Between 5.36am - 5.52am: Warships exchange fire with German defences at the remaining three beaches; first Utah, then Omaha, then Juno.
Then at 6am: Support landing craft begin firing guns and rockets at beach defences.
Nearly 7,000 naval vessels, including battleships, destroyers, minesweepers, escorts and assault craft, took part in Operation 'Neptune', the naval component of 'Overlord'.
Navel forces were responsible for escorting and landing of over 150,000 ground troops on the beaches.
The landings began at 6:30am and continued on for the next one and a half hours.
By the end of August all 2 million troops had been carried across the English Channel to the shores of Normandy.
I, along with 370 other town criers from around the world, have been given the honour of starting off the events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing with the reading of the D-Day80 proclamation.
D-Day 80 Proclamation
Oyez, Oyez, Oyez
Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary
of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France -
an incredible achievement in military planning and logistics
uniting brave service personnel from air, sea and land forces
at the beginning of Operation Overlord.
By the day’s end, over one hundred and fifty thousand
Allied troops had successfully stormed
the now famous Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah and Omaha beaches
to achieve a toehold in France.
In the weeks that followed,
the Allies fought bitterly against a determined foe
from the unforgiving countryside of Normandy
to the liberation of Paris two months later.
We should all remember and never forget
the selfless sacrifice and courage of all those involved
and use this Commemoration to pay our tribute
to those who gave so much to secure the freedom
we all enjoy today.
God Bless Australia
God Save the King
Oyez, Oyez, Oyez
Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary
of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France -
an incredible achievement in military planning and logistics
uniting brave service personnel from air, sea and land forces
at the beginning of Operation Overlord.
By the day’s end, over one hundred and fifty thousand
Allied troops had successfully stormed
the now famous Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah and Omaha beaches
to achieve a toehold in France.
In the weeks that followed,
the Allies fought bitterly against a determined foe
from the unforgiving countryside of Normandy
to the liberation of Paris two months later.
We should all remember and never forget
the selfless sacrifice and courage of all those involved
and use this Commemoration to pay our tribute
to those who gave so much to secure the freedom
we all enjoy today.
God Bless Australia
God Save the King