25/10/2026
Our regular visitors will have been aware that yesterday’s volunteer day (24th) was cancelled. Not something we usually do but this weekend we had a VERY special reason…
Gary, Phil and I received a very special invitation and we are absolutely thrilled and so very honoured, to announce that Shoreham Fort is now officially twinned with Le Grand bunker musée du mur de l'atlantique Ouistreham Normandie.
Shoreham Harbour played a huge part in D-Day but due to adverse weather conditions, the planned landings were delayed by a day.
This meant all the landing craft that left Shoreham needed to take safe shelter against the harbour wall in Newhaven, Shoreham being a tidal port and the tides against them. Our aim is to ensure that our history is recognised and Shoreham’s significance in D-Day is well and truly acknowledge.
By twinning with Le Grand Bunker we are able to tell the story both sides of the water.
Added to this, we were able to celebrate with Blind Veterans UK yesterday. Their Normandy Walking Tour 2026 ended at Le Grand Bunker, where they were welcomed in with 2 x Standard Bearers and a Coronet player who stood in the back of the landing craft and played them in.
There was beautifully moving service with relatives of D-Day servicemen telling us about their relatives. The Last Post and Reveille were played to mark a minute silence.
The Standard Bearers then stood with Gary, as he explained about the significance of the twinning. I had the honour of unveiling the plaque, which Jon Orrell - a great supporter of the Fort and the push behind the barrack block reinstatement - had designed, sourced and installed for us. We also have one for Shoreham Fort (more details on that to follow)
Huge thanks to Jon Orrell and Brigitte Corbin, Le Grand bunker musée du mur de l'atlantique Ouistreham Normandie, for making this happen and well done to all the walkers, as the weather wasn’t kind…
In the evening at Brigitte’s Bar, Norman’s, Ouistreham, all groups came together for a wonderful buffet and superb singsong - this also gave us an incredible opportunity to network with many new friends who are interested to hear Shoreham Fort’s story and help us in our next steps forward, including Nick at Musée de Pegasus Bridge & Batterie de Merville
This weekend really is a very significant milestone for us and as we sit on the (rocky) ferry home, we are all reflecting on what has happened since we left the UK on Thursday.
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