Teams of climbers are to scale all four of the UK’s highest peaks and light beacons in commemoration of D-Day.
On June 6, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, teams will scale Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, Mount Snowdon in Wales and Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland, lighting a beacon at the top to symbolise remembrance.
The beacons will be carried to the top of each peak in memory of those who fought in Operation Overlord in 1944, and will be lit between 9.15pm and 9.45pm.
The event is organised by Walking With The Wounded, a charity that supports veterans, and teams will consist of between eight and 12 individuals, including charity staff, volunteers and other supporters.
Tony Hulton, chief executive of Walking With The Wounded, said: “WWTW is honoured to stand alongside the nation in remembering the bravery and sacrifice of our armed forces personnel during Operation Overlord.
“This significant anniversary serves as a poignant reminder of the pivotal role played by our servicemen and women in shaping history. It is our privilege to pay tribute to their courage and resilience”.
Wayne McCamley, the charity’s veteran liaison and support officer, will form part of the team climbing Ben Nevis.
He said: “I’m both proud and honoured to be representing WWTW on this beacon lighting event on Ben Nevis.
“My grandfather served in the Second World War and he was my inspiration to join the military, so anything that I can do to pay my respects to him, and all the other brave men and woman that served, is a privilege.”
Handmade silhouette statues pay tribute to British servicemen killed on D-Day
Almost 1,500 silhouette statues, handcrafted by a team of volunteers, will stand in the fields of Normandy to pay tribute to the British servicemen who were killed 80 years ago on D-Day.
The For Your Tomorrow project has been four years in the making for the Standing With Giants creative team, led by artist Dan Barton.
A team of 30 volunteers have spent two weeks installing the silhouettes at the memorial overlooking Gold Beach which was one of the key landing points and where they will be open to the public throughout the summer.
As well as the silhouettes representing the personnel from all three services, two bespoke figures have been created to represent nurses Sisters Evershed and Field, who died while saving 75 men from a sinking hospital ship.
Also, figures representing 50 French resistance fighters are being placed around the French Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.
Each of the 1,475 silhouettes represents a serviceman who died under British command on June 6 1944.
The statues have been crafted from more than 25 miles of recycled steel and alloy and decorated with more than £10,500 worth of black paint.
The 22,000 poppies crocheted by Women’s Institute members from across the country will be displayed around the base of the crates. Each one represents a serviceman under British command who died in the Battle of Normandy.
The installation will be on display as part of the D-Day 80 commemorations until the end of August.
The first major Standing With Giants display was set up in 2019, to commemorate Armistice Day, when the team installed 101 silhouettes on a hill near the M40 motorway in Oxfordshire.
To support the project, the public can sponsor a plaque in honour of a loved one for £150 which will be placed in front of a giant and remain at the memorial site for at least five years.
For more information visit: www.standingwithgiants.co.uk
