Veterans attend D-Day service at Llandudno War Memorial

Among the ex-service personnel present were two Second World War veterans both whom laid wreaths in memory of fallen comrades.

Organised by the Llandudno branch Royal British Legion ,the service was led by The Reverend Canon Philip Barratt with prayers including those written by Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, eighty years ago.

Service at Llandudno War Memorial to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. Photo: Jon Harty

While no Llandudno service personnel died on D-Day itself, five were killed in the days and weeks that followed as the Allies fought their way inland from the beachheads.

Much of the fighting centred around the city of Caen where the Allies found themselves in bitter combat against a well-entrenched, organised enemy.

In silence, the assembled parade remembered Petty Officer Leonard Pulling, Serjeant Richard Davis, Corporal Peter Langworthy, Fusilier Hugh Owen Jones and Fusilier William Donohoe.

Service at Llandudno War Memorial to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. Photo: Jon Harty

Accompanied by Llandudno Town Band, Arthur Hughes and Angharad Gallagher gave a very moving rendition of Calon Lân while Vicky Macdonald gave a reading from the gospel according to St Matthew.

Chairman of Llandudno branch Royal British Legion, Peter Kingston MBE said, “Today we honoured the young men from our community who died at the Battle of Normandy but our thoughts were also with those who served, came home, and lived with the horrors of what they had seen.”

Llandudno Royal British Legion are very grateful to Lord-Brown & Harty Ltd for their support of the service and to Troop Cafe for inviting participants for refreshments after the service.