COLCHESTER marked the historic 80th anniversary of D-Day with a commemorative ceremony war memorial service.   

D-Day on June 6, 1944, was a defining success for the Allies in WW2 and was the largest amphibious and airborne invasion in history.

However, the success for the Allies came at a great human cost, with an estimated 9,000 allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen being killed, wounded, or reported missing in one single day.

Honour - Robert Needham, Colchester's town crier, said it was an honour to part of D-Day 80Honour - Robert Needham, Colchester's town crier, said it was an honour to part of D-Day 80 (Image: Newsquest)

At City Hall at 10am, town crier Robert Needham, 83, said: “We should always remember and never forget the selfless service and courage of all those involved and use this commemoration to pay our tribute to those who gave so much so much to secure the freedom we all enjoy today.

“God save the King.”

At 12.30pm there was Commemoration Service at the Colchester War Memorial with D-Day veteran Tom Cuthbert, 98, in attendance as an honoured guest.  

History - Tom Cuthbert, 98, with his daughter Carol served on a landing barge oiler anchored off shore from the Utah and Omaha beachesHistory - Tom Cuthbert, 98, with his daughter Carol served on a landing barge oiler anchored off shore from the Utah and Omaha beaches (Image: Newsquest)

A wreath was laid by the Mayor Lesley Scott-Boutell as well wreaths and flowers from members from the Royal British Legion, the police, the armed forces, the cadets, and from Colchester school children.

Mayor Lesley Scott-Boutell said to the Gazette: “I just can’t imagine it, and I think a lot of my generation and younger, have no comprehension because we’ve never had to do that, we’ve not been involved in a war on our territory.”

“That is why events like today are important to recognise and acknowledge the sacrifices which that generation made for us.”  

Remembrance - Remembrance - Mayor Lesley Scott-Boutell laid the second wreath (Image: Newsquest)

Regarding the trauma of war, Mayor Lesley Scott-Boutell said: “It was very stiff British upper lip, and you contained it all.”

“But we now know that you can only contain these things for so long and at the end of the day we just want to live life.

She added: “It is the sacrifices that generation made, the duty that they showed, which has given this generation the chance to have a safe and more than safe life.”