80th Anniversary of D-Day Commemorations

The BCP area (Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole) played an important role in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. This was a big campaign to free Europe and defeat Nazi Germany. On that day, Allied forces launched a combined naval, air, and land attack.

In the months before the landings, two important leaders met at The Carlton Hotel in Bournemouth to plan the attack. They were Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, and Britain's Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, the Ground Forces Commander in Chief. They also visited troops stationed nearby.

Christchurch was also important during the war. In 1944, the United States Army Air Forces Ninth Air Force set up a base there.

Poole helped by supplying boats and materials needed for the D-Day efforts. The town was the third largest embarkation point for the Normandy landings. Thousands of troops left from Poole Harbour on June 5, 1944, heading for the beaches of Normandy.

To honor these efforts, Bournemouth and Poole’s Charter Trustees are working with BCP Council to host events on Thursday, June 6, in both Bournemouth and Poole.

Another event will be held in Bournemouth on Saturday, June 8, to remember this important occasion.

Events to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings are taking place across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP).

Events to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings took place across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole on Thursday 6 June. Wreaths were laid, beacons lit and a flotilla of boats in Poole Harbour took place in remembrance of those lost.

More events are planned on Saturday 8 June in Bournemouth:

Our region played a pivotal role in the D-Day landings, the campaign to liberate Europe and defeat Nazi Germany, with Allied forces launching a combined naval, air and land assault on 6 June 1944.