British Normandy Memorial

02/10/2026

We were delighted to host Tenby Male Choir for a moving performance at the Memorial this week! 🎶🎶

02/10/2026

Our Memorial Ambassador, 101-year-old D-Day Veteran Ken Cooke, has released a book about his life! 📚

'Every Day Is An Adventure' was written by close family friends Amanda Stirk and Gillian MacDonald.

Their work started from a conversation the two friends had with Ken whilst he was gardening at home one day earlier this year.

Gillian said: "We were saying he'd had such an interesting life that someone should write a book about it. It just evolved from there - initially it was going to be a small undertaking, but it grew and grew."

The book costs £10 + pp and can be ordered by contacting Gillian - [email protected]

Congratulations, Ken! 🎉❤️📚

30/09/2026

Today the Memorial hosted a Service of Commemoration for five British soldiers who died during the Battle of Normandy and whose remains have been found in recent years: Private George Chapman, Private Vincent Coia, Lance Corporal Reginald Dewey, Serjeant Frederick Harrison and Corporal Henry Read.

The service was attended by relatives of some of the five soldiers and organised by the Ministry of Defence and Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

26/09/2026

Bye bye Giants. ❤️

Standing with Giants

25/09/2026

25/09/2026

The late Ken Hay and Alexander Churchill. Despite the 89 years between them, Ken and Winston Churchill's great-great grandson were connected through a passion for remembrance and honouring the fallen.

Alexander, our Youth Ambassador, was lucky enough to meet Ken on several occasions and learnt so much from him. ❤️

📷 Florence Marsac

24/09/2026

Next Wednesday 30th September at 1:30pm we are honoured to host a ceremony to commemorate five Battle of Normandy soldiers whose graves are being rededicated.

Their families will participate in intimate ceremonies at four different Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Normandy and all five will be remembered at the British Normandy Memorial.

Serjeant Frederick Albert Harrison of 1st Battalion The Dorsetshire Regiment, KIA 19 June 1944

Lance Corporal Reginald Cyril Dewey of 4th Battalion The Lincolnshire Regiment, KIA 1 July 1944

Private Vincent Coia of 7th Battalion The Seaforth Highlanders, KIA 11 July 1944

Corporal Henry Thomas Read of 8th Battalion The R***e Brigade, KIA 19 July 1944

Private George Chapman of 1st Battalion The Herefordshire Regiment, KIA 30 July 1944

All are commemorated amongst the 22,540 names at the Memorial.

Members of the public are welcome to attend this short service of Remembrance, hosted by the Ministry of Defence Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC)
and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

23/09/2026

In April, Ken Hay was interviewed by Henry Montgomery as part of the podcast series – In Monty’s Footsteps. Episode 7 of the series is entirely dedicated to Ken’s story, in his own words.

He recounts his wartime years, from landing in Normandy to beoming a Prisoner of War and returning home just days before VE Day.

🎧 You can listen wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧

We will never forget you, Ken. ❤️

22/09/2026

One of our favourite photos of the late Ken Hay from this year, pictured alongside his friend and fellow Veteran Henry Rice.

Rest in Peace, Ken. ❤️

📷 Florence Marsac

21/09/2026

The Memorial will share memories of Ken Hay throughout this week, in tribute to an extraordinary man and a much-loved Ambassador.

On 6th June 2022, Ken visited the Memorial for the first time and found the name of his fallen comrade engraved on one of the columns.

He shared his first impressions with us. ❤️