Lighting their Legacy
Our Torch of Commemoration travelled from the UK to Normandy to mark D-Day’s 80th anniversary.
As we approached D-Day, we launched a programme of events to reach people across the UK, Italy and in France.
These momentous events aimed to build connections between veterans and young people, and bring people together to pass the Torch of Commemoration to the next generation.
Events took place at locations across the UK before crossing to Normandy for 6th June D-Day 80 anniversary.
The Legacy of Liberation
Join us as we commemorate the major events of 1944, and learn more about the Invasion of Normandy.
Leave your own Legacy
A gift in your will can help us continue telling those stories for generations to come, so their sacrifice is not forgotten.
Where did the Torch of Commemoration go?
Oxford Botley Cemetery
11:00 - Wednesday 15 May
Oxford Botley Cemetery contains some 740 burials from both wars, including 461 graves of members of the air forces who were killed during the Second World War.
Cambridge City Cemetery
10:00 - Thursday 16 May
Cambridge City Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 1000 servicemen and women who lost their lives in the two world wars.
Cardiff Cathays Cemetery
12:00 - Thursday 16 May
Cardiff Cathays Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 700 servicemen and women who lost their lives in the two world wars.
Brookwood Military Cemetery
16:30 - Friday 17 May
An evening of musical remembrance at our Evening at Brookwood, this year featuring music from the D-Day Darlings and Colin Thackery.
Chatham Naval Memorial
11:00 - Saturday 18 May
A special rededication ceremony for our Chatham Naval Memorial on its 100th anniversary.
National
Memorial
Arboretum
10:00 - Saturday 18 May
We paid tribute to the fallen of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy at the National Memorial Arboretum
Photo: National Memorial Arboretum
Cassino War Cemetery
Sunday 19 May
The torch was present at Cassino, where we were commemorating the 80th anniversary of the battles of Monte Cassino.
Plymouth Naval Memorial
11:00 - Monday 20 May
During the 70th anniversary of the Plymouth Naval Memorial, we held a special rededication ceremony.
Bath Haycombe Cemetery
14:00 - Tuesday 21 May
As part of our annual War Graves Week, we were at Bath Haycombe Cemetery where we commemorate nearly 1000 world war casualties.
Newark-upon-Trent Cemetery
10:00 - Thursday 23 May
We visited Newark where we commemorate more than 500 casualties of the two world wars.
Imperial War Museum, North. Manchester
11:00 - Wednesday 29 May
We visited the Imperial War Museum North, hosted a special torch ceremony.
Photo: © IWM
Runnymede Memorial
11:00 - Thursday 30 May
We paid tribute to the veterans who will be carrying the torches to Normandy, and for those commemorated at CWGC sites across France and the UK.
D-Day story museum, Portsmouth
11:00 - Monday 3 June
We paid tribute to the veterans who will be carrying the torches to Normandy, and for those commemorated at CWGC sites across France and the UK.