D-Day is remembered across Bridgend County Borough

Events across the county borough are planned to mark June 6, 2024, the 80-year anniversary of D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history.  Codenamed ‘Operation Overlord’, more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on five beaches in Normandy using ships and landing craft, laying the foundations for Germany’s defeat in World War II (WWII).

Bridgend County Borough Council will be raising its armed forces flag in recognition of D-Day; Maesteg, Porthcawl and Bridgend Town Councils, as well as Coychurch Lower Community Council, in collaboration with the Coed–y-Mwstwr Hotel, have all organised events to commemorate the occasion, ranging from remembrance services to a memorial parade.  Details are outlined below:

• Maesteg Cenotaph, Thursday 6 June, at 11am – a short service of remembrance.
• St Michael’s Church, Maesteg, Thursday, 6 June, at 7.30pm – a service of remembrance.
• D-Day memorial parade through Porthcawl, Saturday, 8 June, at 11am (arrive at Cosy Corner at 10.30am), followed by a short commemoration service at All Saints Church.
• D-Day ‘80 Beacons’, Thursday 6 June, at 8pm at the Coed-y-Mwstwr Hotel, with refreshments available to purchase.
• Bridgend Cenotaph, Thursday 6 June, at 11am – the Mayor of Bridgend Town will be laying a wreath.

Pyle and Kenfig Hill Veterans’ Association will also be lighting a ‘peace lamp’ at Pyle Royal British Legion on Thursday, 6 June from 8.30pm, with a reading of a poem and the lighting of the lamp at 9.15pm.  For more information about what may be happening at other local Royal British Legion branches, please visit the website

The county borough has a heritage steeped in the history of WWII, with examples such as Island Farm, a former prisoner of war camp, Stormy Down, a wartime airfield and not least with two Bridgend County Borough veterans, Henry Corless and Eric Barley, who were awarded the Legion d'honneur – ‘France’s highest honour’ for their role in D-Day.

We are extremely proud of our wartime heritage, and it is so important to recognise and remember the courageous, selfless efforts and sacrifices of those who participated in WWII.

The various events that have been planned to mark the D-Day landings reflect how the service men and women who were involved are still highly honoured by the residents of Bridgend County Borough.

As an authority, we respect all existing servicemen and women, reservists and veterans across the county borough, and we try to support them through our Armed Forces Covenant.

We are recipients of the Silver Employer Recognition Scheme Award, demonstrating our commitment to the armed forces community, through offering leave to our serving reservists and the guaranteed interview scheme, to mention just two examples.

We hope that everyone has the opportunity to attend one of the organised events to show their respects.

Carys Lord, Chief Officer for Finance, Housing and Change at Bridgend County Borough Council