Torquay marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day

"We pray that we may walk worthy of their sacrifice."

Torbay came together to remember those who sacrificed everything 80 years ago today, as they landed at beaches across Normandy to begin one of the largest invasions in human history.

On 6 June 1944, the world’s largest invasion by sea and air helped to turn the tide of World War Two as the Allies fought back against Nazi Germany.

The role the men of D-Day would play that day would ultimately change the course of the war and begin the road to victory. 

Alongside Brixham, Torquay played a crucial role in D-Day, being the site of one of the 68 slipways constructed along the south coast. Thousands of servicemen were stationed and left Torbay on June 6 to begin the long battle to victory. 

The commemoration was in the presence of Robin Barlow DL, the Deputy Lieutenant of Devon; Commodore Jake Moores OBE DL Royal Navy, High Sheriff of Devon; Reverend Prebendary Nick Denby; Cllr Mark Spacagna, the Mayor of Torbay; Gordon Oliver, Former Elected Mayor and Leader of Torbay Council; Kevin Foster MP and Cllr Nicole Amil, Armed Forces champion. 

The parade along Beacon Quay was made up of members and standard bearers from the Torquay and Paignton branches of the Royal British Legion; members of the UK armed services and ex-service associations and members and standard bearers of local cadet forces. 

Behind them drove re-enactment groups of the 308 US Engineers, 4th division, who landed on Utah Beach; members of Utah 237 Re-enactment Group and members of Brixham Battery Heritage Group. 

In the service, Rev Nick Denby said: "We gather as representatives of our community, past and present. We remember that anniversaries such as this are here to remind us of lives cut short through war and conflict, of lives which will sacrifice for you and for me to give us our today and our tomorrow.

"As we gather here next to these historic slipways constructed for the embarkation of troops taking part in Operation Overlord, we gather around this memorial, which continues to be a witness to lives given and lives changed through injury, and a reminder to us and to future generations to work for peace and unity, built upon the sacrifice of those we honour here today."Read this week's Torbay Weekly for a full 16-page supplement on

Torbay's role in D-Day or next week for a full report on the commemoration.