Leeds veteran on the importance of remembering courage of soldiers on D-Day landings 80th anniversary

Today (June 6) marks 80 years since the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy as part of the campaign to liberate Europe from the Nazis.

It was a turning point in the Second World War, with more than 155,000 troops – the majority from the UK, the US and Canada but with support from countries including France and Poland – playing their part in the largest seaborne invasion in history.

Their bravery and sacrifice in the name of peace will be remembered as people gather for anniversary events in communities up and down the country.

The focus of the commemorations in Leeds today will be a wreath-laying service at the war memorial in Victoria Gardens in the city centre that starts at 1.30pm.

Among those in attendance will be Morley councillor and veteran Simon Brown, who said that he felt the need to remember such acts of selfless bravery were as important today as ever. He said: “As we commemorate their courage and fortitude it’s a reminder that the things we do have - even though they are not perfect - were paid for in blood by those people who charged the beaches.

“It’s important to say thank you 80 years on and remember the stories and pray that we never have to send our men and women to do that again.”

Cllr Brown was shot in the face as he led a successful mission to recover six stranded colleagues in Iraq in 2006. The bullet entered his left cheek and exited the other side, leaving him blind in his left eye and with around 20% vision in the other.

He said: “We look back at the D-Day Landings as a long time ago but having fought in a modern conflict I think it’s right we remember their sacrifices.

“It’s one of those things where when you have served and you know what it’s like on a battlefield you want people to remember what happened.”

Cllr Brown works for the charity Blind Veterans UK - which he has previously said gave him a “sense of belonging” - and through it he has met people who took part in the D-Day Landings.

He said: “What I find is that they are incredibly humble. It’s so matter of fact.

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“Even though I find them so heroic and courageous, every single one wants to talk about their friends who never came home.

“I think that’s something we forget. We put them on a pedestal but they went to schools we went to and lived in our communities. They were regular, normal people doing something extraordinary.”

Cllr Brown will be travelling across the country to take part in events throughout the week before returning to Morley for a commemoration event on Sunday (June 9) at 3pm at the War Memorial in Scatcherd Park.