D-Day Events In and Around Weymouth

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and there’s plenty going on in the local area to commemorate this.

Between 6th June 1944 and 7th May 1945, 517,816 troops and 144,093 vehicles embarked from Weymouth and Portland harbours.

Both Weymouth & Portland has a memorial to reflect the part played as ports of embarkation, the transit facilities provided and in commemoration to the thousands of US Servicemen that departed from their shores. The current site of the Royal Hotel on Weymouth Esplanade, adjacent to the US Memorial, served as the port’s D-Day Embarkation HQ.

We have recently held our annual US Memorial Day service, where the 75th anniversary of D-Day was commemorated and the US servicemen who gave their lives were remembered.

The Nothe Fort have also held a service to remember those who took part in the D-Day landings, lighting a beacon to pay tribute to those who fought and gave their lives for our freedom. This took place at the end of their 1940’s Home Front Family Weekend, which included displays relating to the D-Day landings.

There are still other D-Day commemoration events coming up in and around Weymouth.

In nearby Broadmayne on Thursday 6th June, members of the public are invited to join the Dedication of the Broadmayne & West Knighton’s D-Day Memorial. For more information, click here.

Portland Town Council are also carrying out a Service of Remembrance on Thursday 6th June. This will take place at the United States D-Day Memorial in Victoria Gardens, Portland. For further information on this service, please click here.

On Saturday 8th June, Weymouth Veterans Hub will be holding an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. There will be a display of artefacts and uniforms from the era and an opportunity to talk to two World War II veterans about their experiences. The Facebook event page can be found here.

A D-Day Commemorative Service and Embarkation Convoy is also taking place on Saturday. The event will follow the route taken by the US 1st Army from Marshalling Area D7 to Embarkation Area D8 and will include a military ‘Drum Head Service’ at the Borough Gardens, Dorchester. There will then be an embarkation convoy from Dorchester to Castletown, followed by a commemorative service held on the embarkation site at Castletown, Portland. The poster for the event can be found here.

On Sunday 9th June, there will be a static vehicle display at the Jubilee Clock, Weymouth Esplanade to commemorate Armed Forces Day and the D-Day anniversary. The display will consist of vintage, historic and classic vehicles, with money made from the event being donated to support the ongoing work of the Veterans Hub. This event is being held by Weymouth Vehicle Preservation Society, click here to find out more.

Later on in June sees the return of the Annual Armed Forces Celebrations in Weymouth & Portland, with this year’s celebrations having a special emphasis on the 75th D-Day anniversary. Over the weekend of 22nd-23rd June, we will be welcoming veterans, residents and visitors to a weekend of military and veterans commemorations and celebrations.

Events taking place over this weekend include: static vehicle displays, live music, fundraising stalls, a veterans parade and a military vehicle convoy. There will also be a flag raising ceremony on Monday 24th June at the Weymouth Town Council Offices to round off the weekend.

For further details, please click below to download the Weymouth Armed Forces Celebrations leaflet.

Details of all of these events, alongside other events, can also be found in our events calendar.