Members of Burntwood Town Council have been reflecting on events from 80 Years ago, when British and Allied Forces started the liberation of Europe on D-Day. Councillors gathered at the Old Mining College to consider the unity, effort and sacrifices made.

Councillor Kathy Coe MBE, Chair of Burntwood Town Council said:

“As you know, today marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the 6th June 1944. Thousands of British and Commonwealth troops, along with American and Canadian allies landed in Normandy to start the liberation of Europe from the tyranny of fascism.

Every village, town and city in this country and many beyond made a contribution to that great endeavour. Operation Overlord was a huge undertaking. It had been four years since the allies had withdrawn from France at Dunkerque. Much military equipment had been built, machines, weapons and a million and one other supplies had been made and gathered. People had worked long hours in factories or in the fields. Many families had sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers away in the forces.

Many women had had their lives upended and as they went to work to produce the equipment the armed services needed to defeat the Nazis, or to produce food for the nation on the farms. Although 150,000 servicemen took part in the fighting on 6th June, millions of men and women at home supported their efforts.

Local people would have known that the operation to return to the continent was about to begin, and there would have been a keen sense of anticipation. Although the invasion had been meticulously planned for years, it had been kept a strictly guarded secret, but the whole nation had been working together as one team towards the final goal – the defeat of Nazi oppression and a return of the rule of law and human rights for all.

The invasion was full of risks, and the Allies knew that if things went wrong there would be a disaster. In the event, 10,000 servicemen became casualties, with about 4,000 killed, but the landings were successful and less than a year later there peace again in Europe.

The D Day story is about sacrifice and unity. The Nation and its allies came together to rid the world of the Nazis, and we must never forget what happened.”