On June 27th, 28th & 29th, a Hungerford Town Council led committee and Commemorative Convoys organised the most fantastic weekend to commemorate D-Day80. The Town Hall was given over for as a venue for the highly successful ‘swing dance’ on Friday night; the children’s crafts, historical talks, WW2 exhibits the next day and of course, the Defence Academy Military Wives Choir treated us to a a beautiful choral performance on the Town Hall steps.
At Midday on the 28th, the Armed Forces Day Civic parade come to the town with REME soldiers from Tidworth marching down the High Street, giving a salute to General Sir Mike Jackson, GCB, CBE, DSO, DL, the Constable and the Mayor as they passed. They thenstood at attention outside the Town Hall until dismissed. Just amazing to watch and it really captured the spirit of the whole weekend.
Despite the Commemorative Convoy arriving slightly late on the High Street, people lined up in their droves to cheer them on as they came through the town. Children who had previously visited the Town Hall had union jack flags to wave and there were many cheers to be heard from young and old alike. The convoy went straight up to the Triangle Field to get in their places for events being held up there on the Sunday.
But that wasn’t all – a parade gathered once again at 5.30pm at the Town Hall to walk up to Hungerford Portdown Common to mark the unveiling of a commemorative stone. The stone commemorates the speech General Eishenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force gave to American troops on Hungerford Common before they set out to fulfil their mission as part of the WWII D-Day landings. After readings and prayers by St Lawrence’s Vicar, Mike Saunders, the stone was unveiled by a representative and veteran from the American Embassy, Mr Jim Sally. He was accompanied in the unveiling by the Mayor, Helen Simpson. The Gordon’s School Pipes and Drums bank played throughout the service and Veterans, the Constable and Bellman, sponsors and other groups and members of Hungerford community, laid wreaths.
In the evening, Stephanie Belle, a 1940’s singer sang beautifully at The Bear Hotel which was a great way to end a fantastic day. On the Sunday, hundreds of people joined the historical vehicles at the Triangle Field. The public were able to get hands on and see all of the vehicles up close! The Town Band gave a fantastic concert and late in the afternoon 4 parachutists treated us to a precision landing. The afternoon finished with Stephanie Belle leading the singing with some rousing choruses of 1940’s songs, joined by an enthusiastic crowd.
The Committee who organised the weekend’s event did a fantastic job and our thanks go out to all involved. Hungerford really came together to remember and commemorate the events of 80 years ago. The commemorative stone can be found just up from the ‘Downgate’ entrance to the Common. It is a beautiful monument made of Bath Stone, and the Town and Manor were very happy to agree that it should stand on the common as a lasting memorial to the men who lost their lives on and around D-Day in 1944.
