A string of events in Amroth, Tenby and Saundersfoot starting tomorrow (June 6) - will mark the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings, highlighting the part some of Pembrokeshire’s beaches played in the rehearsals for the landings.

Amroth is commemorating the historic D Day events with a beacon lighting ceremony on Thursday, June 6.

A year prior to the D-Day landings, Amroth, and surrounding beaches, was used for a logistics learning and preparation practice.

This rehearsal was known as Exercise Jantzen, and helped the D-Day landings be a huge success.

The area was placed under military control, a curfew and residents’ IDs put in place. The beach contained coasters, landing craft and amphibious vehicles.

Residents were banned from the beaches during the exercise, and police enforced a curfew.

Several roadways were bulldozed through the natural bank of pebbles which lined Amroth beach. This weakened local sea defences, and eventually the Government helped to fund sea walls and groynes.

An abandoned landing craft was visible on Amroth beach for years, until it settled below the sand.

The Allies learnt a great deal from Exercise Jantzen, including many of the shortcomings of unloading equipment from beached ships and barges.

The failings may have proved to the military authorities that the most efficient way of unloading troops and equipment at a secured beachhead was to build an artificial harbour.

Ultimately, this is what happened at Normandy with the building of Port Winston at Arromanches.

According to local folklore, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was one of the interested spectators who witnessed Exercise Jantzen and he drank tea at a hostelry in Wiseman’s Bridge where the beach was also used for the exercise.

On the day of the anniversary, at 7.25am there will be the raising the Flag of Peace at Amroth’s flagpole, and a reading of the Proclamation.

In the evening at the seaside village, at 6.30pm the Amroth Church Bell will sound with a ‘Ring Out For Peace’; before an International Tribute is read out at 9pm; and then the lighting of the beacon at 9.15pm.

In thanks of all the small fishing boats that helped in this mission, June 6 is also National Fish and Chips Day. Please support local eateries who will be serving D-Day fish specials throughout the occasion.

Everyone is welcome to join in and remember the historic event, the bravery and sacrifice of the military troops and give thanks for the freedom we enjoy today.

Plans are in hand for Tenby to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings with a special beacon lighting ceremony on Castle Hill.

Instead of lighting beacons to mark his Coronation last year, His Majesty, The King requested that they be lit on Thursday, June 6, 2024 to mark the anniversary of Operation Overlord.

The largest naval, air and land operation in history, the World War Two landings at Normandy in 1944 saw the opening of Europe’s Second Front which would eventually lead to the downfall of Hitler’s Nazi regime 11 months later.

Mayor of Tenby, Cllr. Dai Morgan, fellow councillors, representatives of Tenby Royal British Legion and local cadet units, will leave Castle Square at The Harbour at approximately 8.50pm on June 6 to process up to Castle Hill.

There, following the reading of the International D-Day Tribute, Cllr. Morgan will light Tenby’s beacon to form part of a UK wide chain of Beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace at 9.15pm.

All are welcome to join in at this commemoration.

Earlier in the day, at 11am, the Mayor will also lay a wreath at the town’s War Memorial in remembrance of all those who gave their lives during the Landings.

There will also be a talk at Tenby Museum for the D-Day 80th Anniversary by Curator David Llewellyn.

The story of D-Day is well known, so this talk looks at it from the different perspective of facing the invasion, going through the events of the day, and learning about some of the characters involved.

This talk will be approximately one hour in duration, and will commence at 6 pm.

To book your ticket call 01834 842809.

Saundersfoot harbour will host a D-Day Remembrance Service on Saturday, June 8.

With the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings taking place this month, the service hosted by the Community Council will take place on the decking area at 1 pm

First Aid cover will kindly be provided by Saundersfoot Rotary Club.

Local military veterans are invited to attend, and are asked to please report to the parade commander Cllr Knibbs by 12.30pm.