With the 80th anniversary of D Day, Brackley Community Museum is looking back at the event and remembering the soldiers on Brackley War Memorial that were lost during World War 2 with an exhibition that will run throughout June and July.

The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation, given the codename OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The beaches were codenamed Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah and Omaha.

By dawn on June 6, thousands of paratroopers and glider troops were already on the ground behind enemy lines, securing bridges and exit roads. The amphibious invasions began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture beaches Gold, Juno and Sword, as did the Americans at Utah Beach.

U.S. forces faced heavy resistance at Omaha Beach, where there were over 2,000 American casualties. However, by day’s end, approximately 156,000 Allied troops had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches. According to some estimates, more than 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives in the D-Day invasion, with thousands more wounded or missing. 

Less than a week later, on June 11, the beaches were fully secured and over 326,000 troops, more than 50,000 vehicles and some 100,000 tons of equipment had landed at Normandy. 

In the ensuing weeks, the Allies fought their way across the Normandy countryside in the face of determined German resistance, as well as a dense landscape of marshes and hedgerows. By the end of August 1944, the Allies had reached the Seine River, Paris was liberated and the Germans had been removed from northwestern France, effectively concluding the Battle of Normandy. 

D-Day was the start of Allied operations which would ultimately liberate Western Europe, defeat Nazi Germany and end the Second World War. 

The 1st Northamptonshire Yeoman regiment landed on Gold Beach on 6th June as part of the 33rd Armoured Brigade, and they saw their first major engagement on 26th June when C Squadron commanded by Major D.G. Bevan and under command of the 6th Battalion Green Howards at La Taille, north of Unchy. 

We offer remembrance to Reginald Henry Madelaine, aged 23, son of Mrs and the late Flight Sergeant R.F Madelaine, 62 Halse Road, joined the Army on September 1st 1939 and was a Lance Corporal in the Northants Yeomanry. Prior to joining up he was employed as goods clerk on the LMS Railways at Buckingham. Was a member of Brackley Cricket Club, also the rugby and hockey team. Came to Brackley when very young and was educated at the Council School and afterwards at MCS. Reginald was killed in action in Normandy on June 27th 1944.

Brackley Community Museum’s World War 2 and D Day exhibition is available to view at Brackley Library.

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