THIS year the Royal British Legion, countrywide, has been commemorating and celebrating the 80th Anniversary of D Day and ‘Operation Overlord’.

D Day, otherwise known as 'Operation Neptune' was the codename for the amphibious operation led by the Allied navies to land the troops on the five beaches on the Normandy coast.

‘Operation Overlord’ was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on June 6, 1944, with the Normandy landings and the invasion of Europe.

These operations were only successful because lessons were learnt from previous operations, some devastating; 'Operation Jubilee', Dieppe, August 42; 'Operation Ironclad,' Madagascar May 42; 'Operation Torch' North Africa, November 42; 'Operation Husky', Sicily, July 43; 'Operation Avalanche', Salerno, September 43; 'Operation Shingle,' Anzio, January 44, and not forgetting lessons learnt during the 'Battle of the North Atlantic'.

A spokesperson of the event said: “Let us not forget ANY of them”.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of D Day and next year, 2025, will be the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) and Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day).

To celebrate and commemorate the occasion the Royal British Legion, Axminster Branch is launching its 2024 Poppy Appeal at The Minster, 6.30pm Saturday, October 26.

Tickets are £10 each, available from the Archway Bookshop, Trinity Square, Axminster and from ticketsource.co.uk/axminster-royal-british-legion-branch.

The Royal British Legion provides support for members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families.

By donating to The Royal British Legion, you're helping those in need within the Armed Forces community; serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.

This event will include a Concert by the Chard Concert Brass, featuring an evening of film, contemporary, military, and reflective music - from George Gershwin to Those Magnificent Men in their Flying machines.