02-May-2023

D-Day 79: Events Open To The Public

Below you will find details of the events taking place in Normandy to mark D-Day 79 including the Youth Ceremony, Service of Remembrance and International Ceremony, all taking place at the British Normandy Memorial.

All events are open to the public, although spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come – first served basis.

For any queries related to events at the British Normandy Memorial please email contact@britishnormandymemorial.org.

YOUTH CEREMONY – BRITISH NORMANDY MEMORIAL

Date: Monday 5th June 2023

Location: The British Normandy Memorial, 13 Avenue Paul Poret, Ver-sur-Mer (14114)
Timings: 14.00 CET – 15.30 CET
Description: Organised by the Comité du Débarquement, based in Bayeux, this commemorative service is attended by schoolchildren and youth from across the area where British forces landed (Ver-sur-Mer, Creully-sur-Seulles, Sommervieu, Esquay-sur-Seulles, Bayeux) and a group of young people from the defence college Rachel Salmona in Tréport.
Includes speeches and presentations from the youth of the projects they have been working, as well as the laying of wreaths.
Notes: This event is open to the public.
No ticket or registration required.
Spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Arrival from 13:30 CET.
Seating is not available.
There is a small fee to park vehicles at the British Normandy Memorial. All money raised contributes to the upkeep of the Memorial.

BAYEUX CATHEDRAL COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE

Date: Monday 5 June 2023

Location: Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux, Ville de Bayeux (14400)
Timings: 18.00 CET – 18.45 CET
Description: Organised by the British Defence Staff, this annual multi-faith Service of Remembrance reflects upon the sacrifices made by those under British command during the D-Day landings and throughout the Battle of Normandy.                                                                         Notes: This event is open to the public.
No ticket or registration required.
Spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Arrival from 17:30 CET.

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION’S SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE – BRITISH NORMANDY MEMORIAL

Date: Tuesday 6 June 2023

Location: The British Normandy Memorial, 13 Avenue Paul Poret, Ver-sur-Mer (14114)
Timings: 10.00 CET – 10.30 CET
Description: Organised by the Royal British Legion with the Normandy Memorial Trust, this small but significant ceremony will recognise the sacrifice of the troops who died under British Command on 6th June 1944 and throughout the Battle of Normandy.
A group of British Battle of Normandy Veterans are expected to attend the service.
Notes: This event is open to the public.
No ticket or registration required.
Spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Arrival from 09.30 CET.
Very limited seating.
There is a small fee to park vehicles at the British Normandy Memorial. All money raised contributes to the upkeep of the Memorial.

VER-SUR-MER SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE

Date: Tuesday 6 June 2023

Location: Place Winston Churchill, Ver-sur-Mer (14114)
Timings: 11.30 CET – 12.00 CET
Description: The village of Ver-sur-Mer’s annual service of remembrance commemorating the British soldiers who died liberating the village as well as the civilian casualties of the occupation and the battle of Normandy.
Includes speeches on the importance of peace, involvement of local youth and the national anthems of France and Great Britain.
Notes: This event is open to the public.
No ticket or registration required.
No seating.

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION’S COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE

Date: Tuesday 6 June 2023

Location: CWGC Bayeux War Cemetery, 1945 Boulevard Fabian Ware, Bayeux (14400)
Timings: 12.30 CET – 13.00 CET
Description: Organised by the Royal British Legion, this annual commemorative service takes place among the 4,648 British servicemen and Allied forces buried here.
The service comprises performances by British Army Band Catterick, mezzo-soprano Emma Brown and Normandy Veteran testimonies, as well as a wreath laying.
A group of British Battle of Normandy Veterans are expected to attend the service.
Notes: This event is open to the public.
No ticket or registration required.
Limited seating. Spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Arrival from 12.00 CET.

INTERNATIONAL CEREMONY – BRITISH NORMANDY MEMORIAL

Date: Tuesday 6 June 2023

Location: The British Normandy Memorial, 13 Avenue Paul Poret, Ver-sur-Mer (14114)
Timings: 16.30 CET – 18.00 CET
Description: Organised by the Comité du Débarquement, the International Ceremony hosts representatives from the nine principal Allied nations (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway and the United States of America) as well as Germany.
The service includes speeches from the representatives, the raising of each Allied flag in turn, and music from a French military band.
A group of British Battle of Normandy Veterans are expected to attend the service. They will be joined by a group of up to 50 US Veterans who have been brought to Normandy with the Best Defense Foundation.
Notes: This event is open to the public.
No ticket or registration required.
Spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Arrival from 14:30 CET.
Seating is not available.
There is a small fee to park vehicles at the British Normandy Memorial. All money raised contributes to the upkeep of the Memorial.