D-Day 80th anniversary: Events and services taking place across Greater Manchester to mark historic date

June 6 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord, most commonly known as D-Day. This was the Allies’ attack on Nazi occupied Europe and the first step towards turning the tide of the Second World War. 

Around 150,000 soldiers landed in Northern France via land, sea, and air. It was the biggest invasion the world has ever seen. As the significant anniversary approaches, events have been planned around Greater Manchester to mark the occasion.

We’ve rounded up the times and details of these. Included in the summary are memorial services and a special film screening which will take place in Salford.  

Bury 

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Khalid Hussain, and the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester will lay a wreath at Prestwich War Memorial on the morning of June 6, at 9.15am.  There will be a reading of the D-Day declaration before marking the anniversary with a ceremonial tree planting across from the Memorial in St. Mary’s Park.

Bury Libraries and The Bury Times have put together an eBook publication using articles from The Bury Times archives of events between June 6 and the end of August 1944. Radcliffe Royal British Legion will take part in the national beacon lighting at Outwood Park, Radcliffe at 9.15pm with an open invite for all residents to attend.

Stockport 

A service at the War Memorial Art Gallery will include a video link up with NVA Legacy Group members in Normandy for a short and personal service of Remembrance. School children are warmly invited to attend and to lay poppies in Remembrance of all Stockport Normandy Veterans at this service.

Salford

A special commemorative event will take place on the front lawns of Salford Civic Centre from 8.30pm until 10pm on June 6. The event will feature a specially commissioned film projected onto the Civic Centre building, and local leaders will make tributes. 

Tameside

The Civic Mayor of Tameside Betty Affleck will lay a civic wreath on the altar at Ashton Parish Church (St Michael and All Angels) on Sunday June 9 before the regular service of Holy Communion begins at 11am.

Once the service has finished, at around noon, organisations and members of the public are invited to place their own tributes in memory of all those who took part in Operation Overlord. This will be in the memorial chapel in the north aisle.