The D-Day landings of 6th June 1944 formed the largest seaborne invasion in history. Along with the associated airborne operations, it marked the beginning of the liberation of France and western Europe and the end of World War Two.

On 5th and 6th June 2024, 80 years on from that momentous day, a series of major commemorations are planned to take place in the UK and France to honour the brave personnel who risked their lives on D-Day for freedom and peace.

The Not Forgotten’s commemoration is D-Day 80 for 80…

A one-day 80-mile bike ride involving 8 veterans and 8 serving personnel, who will set off from the D-Day memorial in Poole, cycle via the New Forest and its RAF memorial at Beaulieu, coordinate with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight D-Day Flypast, visit other embarkation points used in 1944, and call in at HMS Collingwood before finishing at Hayling Island near Portsmouth where so many of the D-Day preparations took place. There we will join with the other national commemorations taking place at the Sunset Ceremony.

However 80 for 80 is not just a cycle ride…

We’re also calling on our whole Not Forgotten community to come up with their own ideas for marking 80 years in 80 ways. That might be a physical challenge – cycle your own 80 miles in the real world or online via Zwift; walk, run or swim for 80 minutes on 6th June; cover 80 circuits of your local sports field during June…

Or organise a community commemoration – challenge your knitting group to knit 80 pieces of knitting or get together with friends to bake and sell 80 cakes.

Our 80 for 80 commemorations will raise money but are also about community, camaraderie and conversation. Reflecting on D-Day and taking a moment to celebrate the freedoms of our daily life won for us by the brave men and women who took part in Operation Overlord.