|
DATE |
LOCATION |
EVENT |
|
April 24 |
Courseulles-sur-Mer |
Unveiling of a Spitfire model in the lobby
of the Juno Beach Centre, followed by a conference on aviation
during the Battle of Normandy |
|
April 25 |
Caen |
Ceremony of remembrance for concentration
camp prisoners: Survivors will be present at the service in the
Women's Abbey, along with the President of the Regional Council
of Lower Normandy (3 pm, guests only) |
|
April 25 |
Caen |
Colloquium on the victims of Nazism in
Lower Normandy: The discussion, organised by the Research on
History Centre and Caen University, will take place at the
Women's Abbey (4 pm) |
|
May 1 |
Trouville-sur-Mer |
D-Day literary festival: Writers,
intellectuals, and historians from the countries involved in
D-Day will take part in an international literature festival
commemorating the event. A gala evening, of British Jazz Music,
with proceeds to the French Red Cross, will follow debates, film
screenings, documentaries and exhibitions (runs until May 9)
|
|
May 5 |
Port-en-Bessin-Huppain |
Golf at
Omaha Beach: The inaugural senior tournament at the Omaha Beach
Golf Course, a splendid 18-hole course in which each hole is
named after a D-Day hero (until May 9) |
|
May 27 |
Portsmouth |
Opening of a
D-Day Museum special exhibition. The exhibition will focus on
the crucial role played by Portsmouth in the run-up to the
landings. Fine art from the Ministry of Defence will also be on
display at the Royal Naval Museum in the city |
|
May 27 |
Aubusson |
Commemoration ceremony and tribute to the
11th British Armoured Division at the Pont de Vère Memorial (4 pm) |
|
May 27 |
Sainte-Mère-Eglise |
Greatest Generation Memorial Exhibit: The
first French village to be liberated will host the exhibition,
which is dedicated to American paratroop veterans. The display
is presented in partnership with the Special Operations Museum
and the International Center of Photography in New York (until
June 13) |
|
May 27 |
Vaux-sur-Aure |
Concert of traditional music from Ireland,
Scotland and elsewhere, with Violaine Mayor, Patrice Arnould and
Jël Herrou (6 pm) |
|
May 30 |
Rots |
Cycling tribute: The ninth Bicycle Ride
organized by the Cora Caen sports and cultural association,
departing from Rots, will incorporate tributes at the British
cemeteries in Cheux, Brouay and Secqueville en Bessin, and at
the Canadian Cemetery of Beny Reviers. |
|
May 30 |
Saint-James |
International concert by six choirs (from
the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, France and Germany), who will
perform on Memorial Day at the Espace Le Conquérant (8pm)
|
|
June 1 |
Basse-Normandie |
Photography: Régis Colin’s exhibition,
Veterans, the Pictures of Memory, includes black and white
photographs with commentaries presenting the story of Normandy
through pictures of veterans who came in from the sky and the
sea (until the end of the year) |
|
June 1 |
Basse-Normandie |
France Bleu Basse-Normandie Radio: Daily
radio program in English providing news of the commemorations of
the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, available every morning and
evening throughout June |
|
June 1 |
Crépon |
Liberation exhibition: This permanent
outdoor exhibition celebrates Crépon’s liberation, its role as a
logistics base for the Allied armies, its Victoria Cross and the
B2 aerodrome (Bazenville/Crépon), featuring period photos,
artefacts and documents, as well as first-hand accounts from
local residents (until September 30) |
|
June 1 |
Falaise |
Tour of the Battle of the Falaise Pocket:
Depart from Bayeux, Caen and Falaise and spend the day taking a
guided tour of the battlefield. More information is available
from the Falaise Tourist Board |
|
June 2 |
Portsmouth |
Commemorative concert at the Guildhall,
with the Philharmonia Orchestra |
|
June 3 |
Portsmouth |
March past of veterans, Beat Retreat and
reception for veterans in the Guildhall Square (6pm) |
|
June 3 |
Sainteny |
Exhibition on D-Day, the battles and the
liberation of the town by the 4th and 83rd US Infantry
Divisions, at the local school (until June 7) |
|
June 3 |
Vierville-sur-Mer |
Exhibition of floating models showing the
equipment used on D-Day (to June 9) |
|
June 3 |
Vierville-sur-Mer |
Reconstruction of an American military
camp: The replica includes a field hospital, military police
quarters, the call centre of the Signal Corps and exhibitions on
the daily life of soldiers (until June 8) |
|
June 4 |
Colleville-Montgomery |
The Hillman Site: Exhibitions and guided
tours of the Hillman Site, organized by the Association of the
Suffolk Regiment's Friends, and a recreation of a military camp
by the Juno Military Club (until June 8) |
|
June 4 |
Courseulles-sur-Mer |
Night parade with torches of military
vehicles from Keep Them Rolling, a Dutch group dedicated to
preserving veteran military vehicles. The parade leaves from the
Champ de Course campsite (10 pm) |
|
June 4 |
Fontaine-Henry |
Exhibition at Fontaine-Henry Castle: The
special events include exhibitions on life in the castle during
the occupation, displays of objects and writing left by German
soldiers in the castle and dramatized tours with period costumes
(Open from 2.30pm to 6.30 pm until June 5) |
|
June 4 |
La Cambe |
Commemorative ceremony at the war cemetery:
The president of the Departmental Council of Calvados will be
accompanied by British and German local government
representatives, as well as young people from around Europe
|
|
June 4 |
Magneville |
Commemoration ceremony at the monument to
the Royal Air Force pilots and the paratroopers of the 101st
Airborne who died during the night of 5 June 44 (10.30 am) |
|
June 4 |
Magneville |
Exhibition at the Arts Museum : Downing,
Koenig and Levee: "Painters from France and America": these
painters landed on D-Day and served as members of the US
Artillery, the US Tank unit and the US Air Force and have thus
participated in the liberation of our country. They also
contributed to the renewal of modern art in the fifties. This
exhibition will be a triple homage to these three men: as
liberators, as artists and as francophiles. Open every day from
10am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm ( to August 30 ) |
|
June 4 |
Saint-Manvieu-Norrey |
Commemorative ceremony at the war cemetery:
The president of the Departmental Council of Calvados will be
accompanied by British and German local government
representatives, as well as young people from around Europe
|
|
June 4 |
Ver-sur-Mer |
Reconstruction of a British army camp,
complete with actors and period equipment (until June 7) |
|
June 5 |
Amfreville |
Commemoration ceremony at the 507th
Parachute Infantry Regiment memorial with veterans and young
paratroopers (6 pm) |
|
June 5 |
Amfreville |
Drops of paratroopers from the 507th
Parachute Infantry Regiment (2.15 pm) |
|
June 5 |
Argentan |
Big Band Concert with Glenn Miller’s music
at the village hall (8.30pm) |
|
June 5 |
Arromanches-les-Bains |
Parade of the Surrey Branch of the Normandy
Veterans Association and presentation of the British flag to
Arromanches (5.30pm) |
|
June 5 |
Arromanches-les-Bains |
Ceremony in memory of British veterans at
the Place du 6 Juin (6pm) |
|
June 5 |
Arromanches-les-Bains |
Musical entertainment: In the
pedestrianised street and near the museum, jazz and period music
will be played from 4 pm to 6 pm, and poems and songs from D-Day
will be performed at 9 pm. There will be fireworks at 11.20pm |
|
June 5 |
Bénouville |
Events at Pegasus Memorial: A ceremony in
tribute to Major Howard (11.45pm) will be followed by a parade
of the RAF and military band music (12.15pm). There will also be
captive hot air balloon flights with sights over the site of the
Pegasus Memorial, the church and the castle, and fireworks in
Benouville and Ranville at 11.20pm |
|
June 5 |
Caen |
Warships: Welcoming of ships of the Allied
navies in Caen Harbour (until June 8) |
|
June 5 |
Caen |
Inauguration of the British Garden at the
town’s memorial: The Prince of Wales will attend the ceremony (5
pm) |
|
June 5 |
Caen |
Arrival of veterans: D-Day veterans will
take part in a symbolic ferry crossing of the Channel from
Portsmouth, and will be welcomed at Caen Harbour |
|
June 5 |
Caen |
Memorial service: The Anglican service at
Saint Etienne’s Church will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4
|
|
June 5 |
Caen |
First day stamp: The stamp commemorating
the 60th Anniversary of the landings and of the liberation of
France will be available in Caen and Saint Lô on June 5 and 6.
About 48 temporary post offices will open in several towns of
Lower Normandy and will celebrate their liberation on the same
day |
|
June 5 |
Colleville-Montgomery |
Commemorative ceremony at the statue of
Marshal Montgomery in the presence of British veterans (11am)
|
|
June 5 |
Colleville-Montgomery |
Parade by approximately 1,200 members of
the Normandy Veterans Association finishing at the D-Day Square
(11.45am) |
|
June 5 |
Colleville-Montgomery |
Dinner laid on by the association for the
veterans of No 4 Commando (7.45pm)and fireworks (11.20pm) |
|
June 5 |
Hermanville-sur-Mer |
Tribute and wreath-laying by the town of
Colleville-Montgomery on the graves of French commandos at the
British cemetery (6.45pm) and fireworks (11.20pm) |
|
June 5 |
Longues-sur-Mer |
Village celebrations: There will be a
reconstruction of a British military camp, as well as dinner
organised by the village, followed by a parade towards the
Battery, musical entertainment, fireworks at 11.20pm and a
liberation dance at 11.45pm |
|
June 5 |
Louvigny |
A reception for participants of the
sponsored bike ride leaving from the Enigma Museum at Bletchley
Park and cycling to the D-Day Beaches (until June 6)
|
|
June 5 |
Merville-Franceville |
Curry Dinner for the British Army (8pm,
booking required) and fireworks (11.20pm) |
|
June 5 |
Merville-Franceville |
Commemoration day in honour of the veterans
of the 3rd brigade of the 6th Airborne (late afternoon) |
|
June 5 |
Néhou |
Commemoration of General Patton: The
general's granddaughter will be present at the ceremony to
celebrate the stay (July 6 to August 2, 1944) while preparing
for the Avrances break-through, in the presence of the
General's. |
|
June 5 |
Ouistreham |
Wreath-laying at the Monument to the Royal
Navy and to the Royal Marines, organized by the D-Day Committee
(12 noon) |
|
June 5 |
Ouistreham |
Lunch organized by the D-Day Committee
(12.30pm, guests only) |
|
June 5 |
Ouistreham |
Fireworks (11.20pm) |
|
June 5 |
Port-en-Bessin-Huppain |
Wreath laying at the monument to the 47th
Royal Marine Commandos (7.30pm), followed by fireworks (11.20pm)
|
|
June 5 |
Ranville |
Religious service and wreath-laying at the
cemetery, organized by the D-Day Committee (10am) |
|
June 5 |
Ranville |
Inauguration of the Horsa Glider at the
Pegasus Museum. The Prince of Wales will attend the dedication
to the aircraft, which the RAF used to transport troops during
the landings (10.45am) |
|
June 5 |
Ranville |
Drops of paratroopers (between 2.30pm and
3.30pm) |
|
June 5 |
Ranville |
Fireworks (11.20pm) |
|
June 5 |
Saint-Georges-des-Groseillers |
Commemoration ceremony: The event will
include the inauguration of a memorial to the Canadians, the
British and 13 civilian victims, near the roundabout on the Caen
road (10am) |
|
June 5 |
Sainte-Marie-du-Mont |
Special opening of the D-Day Museum at Utah
Beach until 11pm and fireworks at 11.20pm |
|
June 5 |
Troarn |
Commemorative ceremony at the War Memorial
and at the monument to the 3rd British Para Squadron (6.30 pm)
|
|
June 6 |
Portsmouth |
Traditional ceremony at the D-Day stone,
organised by the Royal British Legion (11am), followed by events
on Castle Field on the Southsea Seafront during the afternoon.
Entrance to the D-Day Museum will be free throughout the day |
|
June 6 |
Amfreville |
Commemorative ceremonies at the stele to N°
4 Commando at Hameau Oger (6 pm), at the monument to N°8
Commando on the Plain, at the monument to the Franco-British
commandos on the Plain (6.45 pm) and at monument N°3 near the
town Hall, in Morice Street (7 pm) |
|
June 6 |
Arromanches-les-Bains |
Religious service (10.30am), official
international ceremony organized by the French Government
(5.30pm), official British ceremony (5.30pm) and fireworks
(11pm) |
|
June 6 |
Asnelles |
Reconstruction of the landings by the Royal
Navy (afternoon, exact time to be confirmed), commemoration
ceremonies at the monuments (5.30 pm) and a street banquet for
veterans, laid on by local people (7.30 pm) |
|
June 6 |
Banneville-la-Campagne |
Commemoration at the British cemetery: The
ceremony will be attended by British veterans and members of the
Banneville/Toufreville War Veterans Association (4pm) |
|
June 6 |
Bayeux |
Ceremony at the cathedral in the presence
of the Royal British Legion (9am) , official Franco-British
ceremony at the cemetery, organized by the French Government
(11am) and celebration for peace at the cathedral (6.30pm)
|
|
June 6 |
Bénouville |
Events at the Pegasus Memorial: There will
be hot air balloon captive flights with sights over the
memorial, the church and the castle, a musical parade on Avenue
du Commando Kieffer (12.15pm) and an open-air café with music in
the evening |
|
June 6 |
Bénouville |
Commemoration: The ceremony and
wreath-laying at the Signal Monument (12.30pm) and the monument
to the 7th Battalion (1 pm) will be attended by British veterans
and followed by an ecumenical service |
|
June 6 |
Biéville-Beuville |
Inauguration of a memorial to the Norfolk
Regiment, on the Colleville-Montgomery road (9.30am) |
|
June 6 |
Caen |
Musical commemoration: The evening will
include a Fauré Requiem concert and a new song called The Story
of a Soldier, written by Harvey Brough and performed by the
Maitrise de Caen, the Portsmouth Cathedral Choir, an
Anglo-French youth choir and the London Mozart Players. It takes
place at L'Abbaye aux Hommes, also called St Etienne’s Church
(8.30pm) |
|
June 6 |
Caen |
Military parade: The band of the Royal
Marines will Beat Retreat on the esplanade of the Town Hall
(10.15pm) |
|
June 6 |
Colleville-Montgomery |
Memorial ceremonies: Wreaths will be laid
at the monuments to Marshal Montgomery (8am), at the monument to
French Navy riflemen and to the First British Graves (8.10am),
at the monument to commandos (8.20am) and a wreath will be
thrown to the sea (8.30am). There will also be commemorative
ceremonies to the veterans of the Suffolk and Norfolk regiments
and a wreath-laying at the Hillman site in the afternoon |
|
June 6 |
Potigny |
Tributes to fighters in the French
Resistance and to Major Inglis, a Scottish airman who died in
this area on June 12 1944 (10am) |
|
June 6 |
Ranville |
Wreath-laying at the French monument
(10.45am) and at the Belgian monument (10.55 am). Ceremony at
the British cemetery (11am) |
|
June 6 |
Sainte-Mère-Eglise |
Musical entertainment at the Church Square,
brass bands (afternoon) and reconstruction of a ceremonial
parade by an allied airborne association and of another one by
the 107th Squadron of the Royal Air Force (6 pm) |
|
June 6 |
Sannerville |
The Goodwood Operation: The operation to
extend the Allies’ area of control along the Normandy coast,
which took place in the area of Sannerville from June until
August 1944, is remembered by this exhibition at the town’s
museum (until August 21). Fireworks will be let off from the
place where members of the 8th Parachute Battalion were dropped
|
|
June 7 |
Arromanches-les-Bains |
Walking tribute: A small group of ten
people will follow the paths of British, French and Canadian
units which landed on D-Day, raising money for the Royal British
Legion and the Normandy Veterans Association. They will leave
from near the D-Day Museum in the morning and walkers will
continue for the next five days. |
|
June 7 |
Basse-Normandie |
Flowers on the graves: Local groups are
inviting people to place flowers in all the cemeteries of the
Allied armies in Normandy. Nearly 5,000 graves have been
sponsored by 1,800 French families and 100 other sponsors,
including towns and associations |
|
June 7 |
Cambes-en-plaine |
Inauguration of a path named after the
Royal Ulster Rifles, which goes from Mathieu to the British
Cemetery of Cambes (3.45pm) |
|
June 7 |
Cambes-en-plaine |
Commemorative ceremonies at the Irish
monument (5pm), the Scottish Plaque in the cemetery, the British
cemetery (5.15pm), at General Harris Square (6pm) and at the
British Monument in Rue de l'Espérance (6.15pm) |
|
June 7 |
Honfleur |
Commemorative ceremony with the
participation of the Normandy Veterans Association from Belgium:
wreath-laying at the monument to allied soldiers (9.45am), at
the Saint Leonard cemetery in tribute to British soldiers
(10.45am) and at the War Memorial (11.15am) |
|
June 7 |
Lingèvres |
Tribute to the veterans of the 50th
Northumbrian Division: Veterans from the 151st Durham Light
Infantry Brigade, the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 2nd
Essex Brigade will be present. A monument to the 2nd Essex
Regiment will also be unveiled |
|
June 7 |
Périers-sur-le-Dan |
Ceremony at the monument to the 3rd British
Infantry Division (11.30am) |
|
June 7 |
Ranville |
Ceremony at the monument to the Irish
soldiers (9.45am) |
|
June 7 |
Saint-Désir |
Commemorative ceremony at the British
cemetery (1.30pm). A "memory and peace" walk from the British
cemetery to Military Square in the Lisieux Cemetery will taked
place at 2.15pm |
|
June 7 |
Sallen |
Inauguration of a commemorative plaque to
American and British units in the Church Square (3pm) |
|
June 8 |
Saint-Charles-de-Percy |
Commemorative ceremony at the British
military cemetery in presence of officers and guardsmen in
uniform (3.15pm), followed by the inauguration of a monument to
the Guards Armoured Division, which liberated the town on August
5,1944 (4.15pm) |
|
June 8 |
Vire |
Commemorative ceremony at Hill 203:
Pictures drawn by children will be offered to veterans of the
29th Armoured Division, followed by the release of doves
(approximately 3pm) |
|
June 8 |
Vire |
Afternoon events: An outdoor exhibition of
photographs will tell the story of the liberation of the town,
while a decorated shop window competition will commemorate the
event. There will also be a parade of military vehicles in the
town centre |
|
June 8 |
Vire |
Evening celebrations: A musical show at
Castle Square will tell the story of World War II and will be
followed by fireworks (8.30pm) |
|
June 9 |
Caen |
D-Day photographs: The exhibition in the
Aula Magna Hall at Caen University includes dozens of pictures
showing the various stages of the operation (until July 25) |
|
June 11 |
Chênedollé |
Commemorative ceremony at the cemetery for
a British soldier who was killed in the village (4 pm) |
|
June 11 |
Rots |
Commemorative ceremony at the monument to
No 46 Royal Marine Commando (5pm) |
|
June 11 |
Sannerville |
Ceremony at the memorial to the 4th Special
Service Brigade and to the 46th, 47th and 48th Royal Marine
Commandos (late morning) |
|
June 11 |
Trévières |
Open-air festival: Bessin 2004 features a
show performed by children in honour of the veterans (7.30pm), a
jazz concert with Big Band sur Mer, plays about everyday life in
June 1944 (8.30pm) and open-air cinema with a giant screen
(11pm) |
|
June 11 |
Viessoix |
Inauguration of a commemorative plaque to
“The Normons” – the Norfolk and Monmouth Regiments – which
liberated the town (3pm) |
|
June 12 |
Bletchley Park |
Enigma Ball. The 1940s themed event will
include dinner, a 1940s big band and Noel Coward cabaret |
|
June 12 |
Bayeux |
Conference of the Société des Arts et
Belles Lettres: The society tells the story of the Bayeux
Tapestry during World War II (5.30pm) |
|
June 12 |
Bayeux |
Football match with French veterans playing
against British veterans at the Stadium on Littry Road (3 pm)
|
|
June 12 |
Rots |
Wreath-laying at the war memorials and at
the monument to No 46 Royal Marine Commandos (12 noon) and
fireworks (10.30pm) |
|
June 12 |
Saint-Denis-sur-Sarthon |
Inauguration of a sculpture at the Place de
Liberté in tribute to Resistance workers and prisoners of
concentration camps (10.30am) |
|
June 14 |
Bayeux |
Festive evening, including a play and
fireworks, commemorating General De Gaulle’s return to Bayeux in
1944 (9pm) |
|
June 20 |
Cambes-en-Plaine |
Commemorative ceremonies: Veterans of the
59th Staffordshire Regiment will be present at tributes at the
British cemetery (10.30am) and the British Monument at the Rue
de l'Espérance (11.30am) |
|
June 21 |
Épron |
Meeting and debate of British veterans with
children from the local primary school (morning) |
|
June 25 |
Fontenay-le-Pesnel |
Tribute to veterans at the British Cemetery |
|
June 26 |
Ducy-Sainte-Marguerite |
Reception for the veterans of the Tyneside
Scottish Regiment (evening) |
|
June 26 |
Flers |
Commemorative ceremony at the war memorial
in the presence of British veterans and of local members of the
Resistance (11am) |
|
June 26 |
Sainte-Marguerite-des-Loges |
Ceremony in remembrance of the bombardment
of the town and in tribute to the pilots from South Rhodesia who
were killed in Normandy |
|
June 26 |
Yvetot-Bocage |
Commemoration of the signature of the
German surrender at the Castle of Servigny |
|
July 10 |
Coutances |
Meeting between representatives of
Coutances’ five twin towns, including Ilkley in West Yorkshire
and St Ouen in Jersey |
|
July 10 |
Mouen |
Commemoration ceremony: wreath-laying at
the Somerset Light Infantry monument (10.30am) and at the Major
Le Grand monument in the presence of British veterans
|
|
July 14 |
Brouay |
Tribute to veterans at the British cemetery
|
|
July 14 |
Caen |
Fireworks and an open-air dance at the
Prairie to commemorate the liberation of Caen |
|
July 17 |
Cagny |
Commemoration ceremonies at the church, war
memorial and cemetery: British veterans will attend the ceremony
(3pm), which will be followed by a gala evening and fireworks
|
|
July 17 |
Évrecy |
Commemorative ceremony at the Welsh
memorial |
|
July 18 |
Sannerville |
Ceremony in remembrance of the bombardment
and the town’s liberation at the memorial to the 3rd British
Infantry Division, in the Church Square (late morning)
|
|
July 25 |
Hottot-les-Bagues |
Ceremony in tribute to veterans at the
British cemetery |
|
August 8 |
Périgny |
Inauguration of a monument in tribute to
nine US airmen of the 349th USAAF Bomb Squadron and who were
killed over the town on August 8, 1944 |
|
August 8 |
Saint-Aigan-de-Cramesnil |
Commemorative ceremony at the war memorial
(10am) and at the remembrance monument (12 noon), with British
veterans in attendance. Throughout the day there will be an
exhibition featuring a Sherman tank, artefacts and period
photographs on the village hall car park (all day) |
|
|
|
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