Armed Forces Day Annual 2025 from Eyes Front Magazine by eyesfrontmagazine

Y o u r A r m e d F o r c e s p e n s i o n i s o n e o f t h e b e s t i n t h e p u b l i c s e c t o r . B u t t o m a k e t h e m o s t o f i t ,

y o u n e e d t o m a k e t h e b e s t c h o i c e s a t k e y p o i n t s i n y o u r c a r e e r Y o u r p e r s o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s

m a y c h a n g e , i n f l u e n c i n g t h o s e c h o i c e s , a n d y o u n e e d t o a p p r e c i a t e v a r i o u s w a y s i n w h i c h y o u

c a n i n f l u e n c e t h e a m o u n t y o u r e c e i v e w h e n y o u l e a v e I t ’ s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t t h e F o r c e s

P e n s i o n s C o n s u l t a n t s a t t h e F o r c e s P e n s i o n S o c i e t y d e a l t w i t h a l m o s t 3 0 , 0 0 0 e n q u i r i e s l a s t

y e a r . T h e g u i d a n c e o u r e x p e r t s p r o v i d e i s p e r s o n a l i s e d a n d a c c e s s t o t h e t e a m i s i n c l u d e d i n

y o u r m e m b e r s h i p f e e .

Y o u r p e n s i o n i s w o r t h a g r e a t d e a l a n d i t w o u l d b e n e g l e c t f u l t o i g n o r e i t J o i n i n g t h e F o r c e s

P e n s i o n S o c i e t y w i l l a l s o k e e p y

i n f o r m e d a b

“ You are worth every penny. The support you have given to my wife and I has been crucial in navigating the complexities of the AFPS during the course of our working careers and after. Thank you for all you do. ”

Visit: forcespensionsociety org/join-now/

The Forces Pension Society is an independent, not-for-profit membership funded organisation that acts as a pension watchdog for the whole military community. Annual membership for you and your spouse/ partner is just £47. You will have exclusive access to our Forces Pensions Consultants, our informative Members’ Webinars and you’ll receive our bi-annual e-newsletters and our magazine, Pennant

While the publishers have taken all reasonable care to ensure that all material is accurate at the time of going to press, they

accept no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is accepted for omission or failure from any cause. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of NAFESE.. Professional advice should be sought before making any commitment to business transactions detailed within NAFESE. All advertisements are accepted only on the grounds that they comply with the terms of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and all other relevant legislation. Inclusion of an advertisement cannot be construed as an endorsement of the advertiser or the product by the publishers, their employees or agents. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for any transaction between readers and advertisers. No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publishers.

WELCOME - ARMED FORCES DAY ANNUAL

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FIRST ARMED FORCES DAY ANNUAL PRODUCED BY THE TEAM FROM THE NATIONAL ARMED FORCES & EMERGENCY SERVICES EVENTS (NAFESE) TEAM

The Annual you see in front of you compliments the range of publications from the NAFESE portfolio, sitting alongside other titles such as NAFESE’s Community Directory, Eyes Front Magazine and other specialist titles.

The Annual will be launched on Armed Forces Day 2025 and made available at various events across the UK on June 28th, however it is designed to stay current for 12 months and a celebratory reflection back on 12 months’ work for the UK Armed Forces.

Inside the publication, we look back on news stories for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, reflecting on VE Day 2025 (as part of the 80th Anniversary) and D Day 81.

We also look back at a busy period for NAFESE and a look at some of the stories for the 2025 Services Awards, now in their third year. The 2025 Services Awards also included a one-off additional element in the Covenant 25 Awards, celebrating the silver anniversary of the inception of the modern day Armed Forces Covenant.

We are incredibly fortunate that the United Kingdom has an Armed Forces community of the utmost integrity and incredibly high standards of professionalism and for them to be celebrated and noted each year in the form of Armed Forces Day is hugely important and long may this tradition continue.

Thanks for taking the time to pick up a copy of the Armed Forces Day Annual (or click on the link online) and for ultimately supporting our Armed Forces personnel, both current and former.

Very best wishes,

Mal

Mal Robinson, Editor, Armed Forces Day Annual.

National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Events Team www.nafese2023.com

ARMED FORCES DAY 2025

Armed Forces Day takes place on the last Saturday each June, falling this year on 28 June.

It is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving personnel to Service families, veterans and cadets.

It also marks the culmination of a week of celebrations, beginning on Monday 23 June, when the public show their support and appreciation for the Armed Forces community. It also includes Reserves Day (25 June), which provides the country with an opportunity to recognise our Reserve Forces.

Showing support for the Armed Forces provides a muchvalued morale boost for serving personnel, veterans and their families

Supporting our sailors, soldiers and aviators goes beyond Armed Forces Day. In fact, the Government, local communities and businesses across the UK have committed

to supporting Armed Forces personnel past and present by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

You can read more on the Armed Forces Covenant and 25 years since the inception of the modern day Armed Forces Covenant later in the magazine.

Please find below a range of events taking place around the UK for Armed Forces Day 2025…

Events are taking place for Armed Forces Day across the UK from Bognor Regis to Bishop Auckland from Sunderland to St Ives.

Check what is happening in your region by searching “Armed Forces Day Find Events” via your search engine online.

The National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Events team are of course proud supporters of Armed Forces Day and we hope to see you at the many events taking place up and down the land.

PAGE COLDSTREAMTITLEGUARDS

IMAGE OF THE FOUR ENSIGNS AND THE NEWLY CONSECRATED COLOURS

AWAITING THE ORDER TO MARCH OFF AT WINDSOR CASTLE

His Majesty The King has presented new Colours (ceremonial flags) to the Coldstream Guards, one of which was Trooped through the ranks at His Majesty’s official Birthday Parade. The event reinforced The Coldstream Guards’ longstanding service to the Crown and provided an excellent opportunity for the Coldstream family to come together and celebrate the 375th anniversary of the Regiment. The new flags are decorated with elaborate symbols and battle honours, gained in almost four centuries of service, and once consecrated take on a mystical quality as it is believed that within their precious threads is woven the spirits of all those that had died fighting in their name. Colours cannot be used on parade (or in battle) until they have been consecrated, so today the traditional ceremony of prayers and blessings was

(13/06/2025).

held in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle for the presentation of the ceremonial flags of the Coldstream Guards, to ensure that New Colours are trooped by Number 7 Company at the King’s Birthday Parade on 14th June. The King’s Colour is made of silk damask, with gold thread embroidery and fringe. It bears the eight pointed Star of the Most Noble Order of the Garter awarded to the Regiment’s commander General Monck by King Charles II following his role in ensuring the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards and the Band departed for London immediately afterwards and the next day they trooped their smart new Colour for the first time in public on Horse Guards Parade in front of a global audience of millions.

TROOPING THE COLOUR

THE BAND OF THE HOUSEHOLD DIVISION REHEARSING TROOPING THE COLOUR AT HORSE GUARDS PARADE IN LONDON

Trooping the Colour is a spectacular display of military precision and pageantry, marking the official birthday of the British monarch. With over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians, it’s one of the most iconic annual ceremonies in the UK. Rehearsals are vital to ensure every detail is perfect, from marching in time to flawless formations honouring centuries of tradition and celebrating national

(29/05/2025).

pride. As rehearsals for The King’s Birthday Parade progress, it’s clear that this year’s Coldstream Guards Trooping the Colour will be like no other!

Celebrating 375 years since their formation on the orders of regicide Oliver Cromwell, his New Model Army was the disciplined, professional, state funded foundation of the modern fighting force that we enjoy today.

Veterans are eight times more likely to be affected by gambling harm.

“Contacting GamCare felt like a huge step, and it was the best step I could have taken. The GamCare adviser talked to me as an equal and instantly put me at ease. I knew then that I would have the support I needed to get through this.”

Serving member of the Armed Forces

MEMBERS OF 5 REGT, ROYAL ARTILLERY AT THE WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AT THE CENOTAPH.

Members of 5 Regt, Royal Artillery, having recently returned from OP TOSCA, serving with the UN peacekeeping contingent in Cyprus lead a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

Representatives from around the world laid wreaths and band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, Youth Production Network and United Nations Association of the UK were present at the event. Students from the Grey Coat Hospital

School for Girls and Westminster City School for Boys served as marshals throughout the ceremony. More than 61,000 UN Peacekeepers are currently deployed around the world in some of the most fraught regions, and the UN currently has 11 peacekeeping operations. Over four thousand UN Peacekeepers from 120 nations have lost their lives serving the cause of peace.

EXERCISE HEDGEHOG

A CAPTAIN FROM THE 1ST BATTALION OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER REGIMENT HAS HER PORTRAIT TAKEN WHILST DEPLOYED IN ESTONIA ON EXERCISE HEDGEHOG

Exercise Hedgehog (ExHH25) from 9-24 May 25, is part of the Op Razoredge series of deployments supporting NATO’s eastern flank. The exercise serves as a Forward Land Force (FLF) mission rehearsal, providing the opportunity for the FLF and invited Allied/Partner Nation (PN) and Force Elements (FEs) from across NATO to deploy to Estonia (EST), integrate and subsequently conduct operations alongside the EST

Defence Force (EDF) and EST Defence League (EDL) units. The Exercise is primarily focused on training and integration on NATOs Eastern flank and also to deter Russia. The Exercise is being run by the UK’s 4th Light Brigade Combat Team (The Black Rats) along with supporting elements and Partner Nations, with ExHH25 being the Estonian Defence Force’s annual validation exercise.

OF SAVING LIVES

PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT

XV EXCALIBUR

ROYAL NAVY DIRECTOR DEVELOP, REAR ADMIRAL JAMES PARKINS CBE OPENING SPEECH DURING THE NAMING CEREMONY OF XV EXCALIBUR.

On 15th May 2025, the Royal Navy have unveiled its first Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vessel in HMNB Devonport. The launch of the experimental platform is the culmination of a three-year long innovation project called CETUS. Named XV Excalibur, the vessel is a significant step for the Royal Navy at 12 meters long, over two metres and displacing 19 tonnes, is the largest uncrewed underwater vessel trailed to date. XV Excalibur was dedicated by Honorary Captain Peaches Golding OBE CStJ RNR, the Lord Lieutenant of the City of Bristol and christened the vessel in true navy style with a bottle of Plymouth Gin. It was formally

unveiled and named Excalibur at HMNB Devonport in front of 200 esteemed guests and VIPs including Rear Admiral James Parkin, Navy Director Develop, representatives from AUKUS nations, trainees from across the navy and Cadets. Over the next two years, Excalibur will carry out extensive sea trials, helping to accelerate the Royal Navy’s use of advanced technologies. It will help develop a better understanding of the unique challenges that come with operating uncrewed vessels of this size – with the aim of future vessels working alongside crewed platforms.

Shared Ownership is a way to buy a share in a home now with the option to buy more of it in the future. Initially, you can purchase the share of a home that you can afford, usually between 25-75%* and you’ll pay rent on the other share. In the future you can increase your share or even buy your home outright.

Typically our shared ownership homes are sold on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis due to such high demand. However, serving military personnel or former members of the armed forces discharged within the last 2 years receive priority. View our

“We never thought we’d be able to afford a new home near to Evie’s grandparents. Thanks to Shared Ownership, we can!”

EXERCISE SWIFT RESPONSE

2ND BN THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT DEPLOYED ON EXERCISE SWIFT RESPONSE WAIT TO BOARD ATLAS C.1 A400M FOR LLP (LOW LEVEL PARACHUTE) JUMPS IN SWEDEN.

Over the course of the exercise hundreds of troops will take part in multiple LLP (low level parachute) jumps. May 2025, NATO Allies and partners are executing Swift Response 25, led by the United States, and involving UK, Italy, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden conducting nearsimultaneous airborne operations and multinational training across the High North and Baltic region to enhance collective defence readiness. Swift Response 25 demonstrates

multinational power projection and the expansion of critical capabilities on the battlefield in the High North and Baltics through airborne jumps and integration of technology. Swift Response 25 involves five near-simultaneous airborne insertions, HIRAIN training, a field hospital exercise and live fires conducted with NATO networks in Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland from May 11th to 31st, 2025.

Service leavers, Veterans and families.

At York St John University we highly value the skills and discipline of former military personnel and we recognise this in our application processes. We give credit to non-traditional entry qualifications and experience when you apply for our courses. When you are studying with us, we will provide you with support and resources to help you adjust to university.

We provide support for the families of military serving personnel. We are part of The Service Children's Progression Alliance (SCiP Alliance) and understand that the children of armed services members may have a different experience when applying to university. The UCAS application system now includes questions to identify students from UK Armed Forces families, Veterans and Service leavers and we welcome applications from children with these backgrounds.

Our Military Human continuing professional development (CPD) courses provide front line staff in council, community, health and social care and other professions with insight into the experience of Service leaders adjusting to civilian life. The sessions provide insight into military culture, the common challenges faced when leaving the Armed Forces and the valuable skills Service leavers bring to the workforce. Proud to support our Armed Forces,

Find out more on the armed forces section of our website: yorksj.ac.uk/armed-forces

VE DAY 80

A guard of honour of personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force were on parade in Parliament Square for the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

A major military procession and flypast in central London was enjoyed as the United Kingdom’s national commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe – Victory in Europe Day.

The procession comprising around 1,000 members of the Armed Forces from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force and 23 aircraft formed the Royal Air Force flypast. Ceremonies in Parliament Square launched the procession as the Armed Forces marched up Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace.

Second World War veterans joined special guests at the Queen Victoria Memorial to watch the procession. Seven military bands were involved in the procession, including The Band of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment on horseback. The Royal Air Force flypast included a Second World War-era Lancaster from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and modern aircraft which have recently served on operations protecting the UK around the world.

The flypast culminated in a spectacular display by The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – The Red Arrows –complete with their iconic red, white and blue smoke. The UK Armed Forces also took a leading role in VE Day 80 commemorations in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.

RED ARROWS

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team was again granted official approval to display for the public in 2025, following completion of pre-season training and an annual assessment at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus.

This marks the start of a busy season of events, with more than 60 displays and big flypasts planned across the United Kingdom and mainland Europe between May and October.

KAINOS FOR DEFENCE

Business as usual is no longer an option.

As borne out in the recently published Strategic Defence Review (SDR), UK Defence must pivot to a new way of war, harnessing new technology and thinking differently about conventional military power. In what is a new era, UK Defence will need to transform to become a leading tech-enabled defence power, with an Integrated Force that deters, fights, and wins through constant innovation at wartime pace.

Kainos is operating right at the heart of Defence as a key partner in delivering that shared vision, working together with Defence to enable the digital backbone, innovation and technological advantage that UK Defence needs to fulfil its fundamental role for the Nation.

NAFESE 2025 - A LOOKBACK

As well as being a busy period for the UK’s Armed Forces and Veterans community (as we have seen over the various pages of this publication), 2025 has also been another hectic period for the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Events (NAFESE) team.

The launch of the NAFESE Community Directory for 2025 took place at The Royal Air Force Club in London in January. This was followed by the launch of NAFESE’s Franchise and Business Guide and Forces ELCAS training provider Directory in time for the third National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Event - NAFESE 2025.

NAFESE 2025 was held at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland on Wednesday April 9 and featured an Armed Forces

Veterans Breakfast Club with guest speaker, RAF Veteran, Author and Screenwriter, Dougie Brimson.

Alongside the Breakfast Club, NAFESE 2025 also featured a STEM Village for visiting schools and colleges from the local area, a Recruitment & Resettlement Zone, A Blood Pressure Clinic and Sensory Quiet Zone, provided by Incluscape.

Over 300 people attended the morning visiting exhibitors from the likes of McDonald’s, EE, Richard Reed Solicitors, Northumbrian Water, DCS Payroll and more.

Watch this space for news on NAFESE 2026!

www.nafese2023.com

BRITISH ARMY PHOTOGRAPHIC

British Army Photography Competition 2025 Corporal Aaron Stone, RLC, Runner-up Professional Portfolio entry.

British Army Photography Competition 2025 IMAGE OF THE YEAR, Sergeant Donalt Todd, Royal Logistic Photographer Changing the Guard & Behind the Scenes with Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Army Photographic Competition results provide stunning images of life as a soldier. What better way for an insight into the British Army than through the eyes of its soldiers. Arm them with a camera; be that a topof-the-range mirrorless camera in the hands of one of its professional photographers, a more modest point and shoot belonging to an enthusiast, or simply a smartphone whipped out at just the right moment and what you get is a unique vision of life among the ranks. That is precisely what the Army Photographic Competition 2025 has revealed in a truly remarkable set of images. The winning professional portfolios blended the pomp and ceremony of the Army, showcasing Britain at its majestic best, with the more familiar visions of grit and determination on the faces of those pushed to their limits. As His Majesty’s Mounted Ceremonial Battery, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery role includes the firing of Royal Salutes to mark the grand occasions of State, including The King’s Birthday Parade, Royal Birthdays and Births.

British Army Photography Competition 2025 Sergeant Donald Todd, RLC, Winner Professional Portfolio entry.

British Army Photography Competition 2025 Runner-up Image of the Year 2025, Corporal Aaron Stone, Royal Logistic Corps Photographer.

British Army Photography Competition 2025 Corporal Aaron Stone, RLC, Runner-up Professional Portfolio entry.

THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT ‘25

2025 IRONICALLY SEES 25 YEARS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE MODERN ARMED FORCES COVENANT AS WE KNOW IT

The Military Covenant or Armed Forces Covenant is a term introduced in 2000 into British public life to refer to the mutual obligations between the United Kingdom and the British Armed Forces. According to The Guardian, “it is an informal understanding, rather than a legally enforceable deal, but it is nevertheless treated with great seriousness within the services”.

It was coined in Soldiering – The Military Covenant (booklet), UK: Ministry of Defence, April 2000, and has now entered political discourse as a way of measuring whether the government and society at large have kept to their obligations to support members of the armed forces. It is in essence a pledge between the UK society and its Armed Forces community.

Now 25 years on since the idea was initially mooted, over 13,000 organisations, companies and brands have signed the Covenant with many more signed up to the MOD’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Recognition of a special bond of mutual obligations between the state and its Armed Forces dates back more than 400 years: a 1593 Elizabeth I statute provided for a weekly tax on parishes not to exceed 6d on the pound, so that disabled army veterans “should at their return be relieved and rewarded to the end that they may reap the fruit of their good deservings, and others may be encouraged to perform the like endeavours”,and it is thought that this “unspoken pact” may date back to the reign of Henry VIII.

We are proud holders of the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award.

PAGE TITLE

SERVICES AWARDS

COVENANT & SERVICES AWARDS SHORTLISTED NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 CEREMONY

The list of shortlisted nominees has been announced for the 2025 Covenant and Services Awards.

The Services Awards which take place each summer and produced by the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Events (NAFESE) team, celebrate the best in service from armed to emergency to volunteer and will take place on Thursday July 3 at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland.

The 2025 event takes on a special addition in the form of the Covenant Awards ‘25 - a one-off celebration marking 25 years since the inception of the modern Armed Forces Covenant.

The Covenant Awards features three categories - Most Outstanding Charity/CIC, Most Outstanding Private Sector and Most Outstanding Public Sector and is designed to showcase companies who have gone the extra mile in one form or another during the 25 years since the Armed Forces Covenant was first mentioned.

The Services Awards features nine categories - Most Outstanding Royal Navy/Royal Marines, Most Outstanding Police/Law Enforcement, Most Outstanding British Army,

Most Outstanding NHS/Healthcare, Most Outstanding Royal Air Force, Most Outstanding Fire Service, Most Outstanding Volunteer Service, Mental Health Champion (across all services) and Most Outstanding Overall.

This year’s awards features an array of positive and selfless stories across the services sector and include lifesaving skills which saved a baby’s life, stories of physical stamina all in the spirit of fundraising for good causes and tales of professionalism.

The Most Outstanding Police Category even includes the story of Baloo, a former Police Dog, now doing outstanding things for mental health, after her release from Essex Police due to injuries sustained on duty.

Event Director for NAFESE, Mal Robinson added, “each year you think you have heard it all in terms of heroism and selflessness, when it comes to people in the services and each year, you become equally as humbled and astounded at the sheer level of integrity of the most professional of people…it really is a proud moment for everyone, when the awards come round each year.”

The shortlisted nominees in full are as follows: COVENANT AWARDS

Most Outstanding Charity/CIC (in association with The North East BIC)

• Veterans in Crisis

• Military Veteran Football Club

• Walking with the Wounded

Most Outstanding Private Sector (in association with Durham Business Club)

• Believe Housing

• Amanet

Most Outstanding Public Sector (in association with Incluscape)

• East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

• Liverpool John Moores University

• North East Ambulance Service

• Sunderland City Council

SERVICES AWARDS 2025

Most Outstanding Royal Navy/Royal Marines (in Association with the National Federation of Demolition Contractors)

• Mr David Bathgate (Veteran) - Military vs Cancer

• HMS WIldfire

Most Outstanding Police/Law Enforcement (in association with DSR Laser)

• Baloo - Essex Police, The National Police Wellbeing Service (Oscar Kilo)

• PC Nicola Crabbe - Wiltshire Police

Most Outstanding British Army (in association with Ascendant Lifts)

• Lt Col Matthew Cann - RMP, Loan Service Team Brunei

• 11 EOD&S Regt RLC

• Capt David Ridley - 8 Rifles

• Mr Andrew Cammiss (Veteran) - East Durham Veterans

Trust

Most Outstanding NHS/Healthcare (in Association with Training in Care)

• Laura Lawton & Newmedica

• East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

• Mr Josh Plumpton - North East Ambulance Service

• Mr Martin McKie - North East Ambulance Service

Most Outstanding Royal Air Force (in Association with The Beach House, One Roker Terrace)

• Cpl Gillian Craig - RAF Police, RAF Honington

• WO Ian Pallace - JFC Naples

• Mr Andrew Holloway (Veteran) - Amazon UK

• Mr Dougie Brimson (Veteran) - Red Bus Movies

Most Outstanding Fire Service (in Association with Gordonstoun School)

• Crew Commander Danielle Hood - West Midlands Fire Service

• Karl Learnihan - Barnstaple Fire Station

Most Outstanding Volunteer (in Association with Stagecoach)

• Sdn Ldr Thomas - RAF Cadets

• Mrs Lindsay Sykes - The Scouts

• Mental Health Champion (in Association with Aviation Action)

• Mr Sean Phelps (Veteran) - HM Prison Service

• Mr David Bathgate (Veteran) - Military vs Cancer

The Most Outstanding Overall winner is drawn from the above nominees and is sponsored by Petrie & Sons.

The Covenant & Services Awards’ winners will be announced on the evening of Thursday July 3 at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland in a black-tie ceremony.

D DAY 81

Royal Marines along with the Royal Marines Association (RMA), veterans and French locals gathered to commemorate the 81th Anniversary of D-Day by “yomping” 12 miles from Asnelles beach to Port-en-Bessin on the 6th June 25 47 Cdo (RG) RM based at Devonport Naval Base in Devon are the UKs Amphibious and Landing Craft specialists, who are retracing the footsteps of their World War II Commando predecessors, when on 06 June 1944 they attacked and secured the important Normandy Port. The Normandy Landings were the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare1. The invasion, codenamed Operation Neptune, was a combined naval, land and air assault on Nazi-occupied France. With Germany occupying large parts of Europe, the UK, USA and their allies were required to open a major front in the West as Russia fought Nazi Germany in the East. The Allies hoped the second front would force Germany to split its resources over two fronts.

The Allies identified suitable beaches on the Normandy coast, chosen because they could support the weight of the tanks, trucks and equipment that would be required. The beaches were given codenames: Sword – between Ouistreham and Lion-sur-Mer Juno – between St Aubin and Ver-sur-Mer Gold – between Ver-sur-Mer and Port-en-Bessin, around Arromanches Omaha – between Port-en-Bessin and Isigny Utah – Between Quinelle and Isigny In the UK, thousands of men and vehicles and tonnes of equipment were assembled in southern England. Troops from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Poland, Norway and the Netherlands launched the initial invasion of Normandy with naval and air support from all Commonwealth countries, Czechoslovakia and Greece. On D-Day alone, 132,815 men were landed. In the month that followed, more than 1 million men were brought to Normandy.

Start your next chapter with Cumbria

Choose from career advancing courses in Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Paramedic, Sport, Business, Project Management, Leadership and Management, Teaching and many more.

With full time, part time, degree apprenticeships and short courses available, we can help equip you with what you need and utilise your existing skills to fulfil a new career or role.