WATCH: Emotional service takes place in Inverness as wreath laid in tribute of D-Day
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A few service men gathered beside Inverness’s war memorial at Cavell Gardens in tribute to those who lost their lives in World War Two and to commemorate D-Day.
The term D-Day is used by the Armed Forces to refer to the beginning of an operation.
Unprecedented coordination between Allied nations, and the intensive planning of engineers, meteorologists, logisticians and countless more, led to a force from 13 countries approaching Normandy in a 5000-vessel armada.
In the early hours of D-Day, 24,000 paratroopers and glider-borne troops landed behind German lines to provide tactical support.
Massive naval and aerial bombardments attempted to suppress the German defences and weaponry. Then a ground force of more than 130,000 troops came ashore on five beaches across a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast, with the first waves often facing intact defences.
By the end of D-Day there had been 10,000 allied casualties. Yet this was only the beginning. The ensuing Battle of Normandy was to last into August and cost tens of thousands of lives as it defeated and repulsed the occupying German forces eastwards.
It was a decisive success for the Allies and paved the way for the liberation of much of north west Europe.
Decades on, service men from across the UK continue to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in line of duty. In aid of today’s significance, few service men from Inverness gathered around the war memorial in Cavell Gardens, along the River Ness, for a minute of silence and an emotional service.
Chairman of the Inverness branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland, Bart Lucas said: “We are here today to remember and say thanks to the people who gave their lives on the Normandy landings exactly 80 years ago today.
“We are also here for the families of those people who gave their lives and for the ones that did survive, but were severely injured and are still carrying the pains of war.”
D-Day is a particular day of importance for Bart as his father was involved in the war as a part of the support teams. Bart’s dad worked in a neighbourhood dockyard in Portsmouth which was where a large majority of the ships were taken to be sent across to France.
Bart proudly wore his collection of service medals that ranged from an MBE, which he received in January this year from Princess Anne for his outstanding service. Additionally, Bart has acquired six other medals that signified his due diligence in the army cadet force, his active service in South Arabia with the Royal Air Force, as well as an accolade to honour the time he spent in the Police service.
Additional events are set to take place throughout the course of today (Thursday, June 6), including a service in Nairn and at Inverness Town Hall.
