Sand instillation at Kent beach commemorates D-Day

80 soldiers have been drawn in the sand in Broadstairs

Author: Grace O'HarePublished 22nd May 2024

D-Day commemorations have taken place in Kent this morning (22 May), to remember those who landed on the beaches in Normandy.

80 soldiers have been drawn in the sand in Broadstairs to remember those who went to France in 1944.

Arthur Gower was one soldier who fought in Normandy on the 6th June.

His son Peter has been speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, he says the instillation makes him feel "so proud".

The 72-year-old is also an army veteran, who has lived on RBLI’s Aylesford veterans’ village for the past 18 years.

Pete spoke about what his father told him about D-Day, he said he watched as his friends were shot when they attempted to get over the barbed wire, Pete’s dad then threw himself on top of it, acting as a human bridge.

He added: "I wish they could all be here, because they gave so much."

The Normandy landings 80 years ago were the first stage of the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe.

By the end of D-Day on 6 June 1944, the Allies had established a foothold in France - an event that would eventually help bring the war to an end.

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