Residents pay respects to D-Day at wreath laying memorial

Some 30 people turned up to the Bournemouth War Memorial to pay their respects on D-Day and take part in the wreath-laying ceremony.

Dorset played a fundamental 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 June 6, 1944.

Participants were then asked to join in with a two-minute silence to reflect on the event.

Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr George Farquhar.

Newly elected mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr George Farquhar, mentioned the importance of D-Day to him personally.

He said: “I come from a military family. My father was in the Navy, he wasn't involved in the D-Day landings themselves 80 years ago, but being a naval man, he was in the Royal Navy for 23 years.

“He came as a single sailor and then left as a chief petty officer and gunnery instructor, as far up as you can go in the non-commissioned ranks.”

Paul Yates, leader of Dorset Poppy Appeal.

Paul Yates, leader of Poppy Appeal Dorset, attended to pay his respects to the memorial, he said: “What D Day means to me is all the sacrifices that were made over in 1944.

“If it wasn't for those sacrifices and also the men and women who went over there, we wouldn't be here enjoying our freedom today.

“That means a lot to me and probably the biggest majority of Dorset because I represent the poppy appeal and we try to raise thousands of pounds for ex veterans and we continue to do so.

“I came and laid the wreath down this morning on behalf of all of them they weren't very old when they passed away, but they're always in their hearts, even though they're gone.”

Ian Cleary, war veteran.

Ian Cleary, a war veteran, also came to remember the fallen.

He said: “D-Day is the liberation of Europe and our freedom. So many people lost their lives for the freedom of everybody else. It was the great sacrifice.”

The wreath-laying ceremony took place in Lower Gardens near the Town Hall at 11am.