Heads were bowed this week in respect to those who took part in the Second World War D-Day landings 72 years ago.

More than 70 people took part in a memorial service on Dartmouth’s North Embankment on Monday where a two-minute silence was observed at 11am as a bugler from Britannia Royal Naval College sounded The Last Post.

Wreaths were laid by the BRNC; Jan Cowling, a former Royal Marine and president of the Old Dartmothians, which organised the service; and district councillor Hilary Bastone on behalf of the LST and Landing Craft Association.

Among those present were the mayor and mayoress of Dartmouth, Cllr Rob and Di Lyon, a contingent from the BRNC, representatives from the Royal Naval Association, Royal British Legion, war veterans and town councillors.

The service was conducted by Dartmouth vicar Fr Will Hazlewood, curate Fr Nick Debney and BRNC chaplain the Rev Keith Robus.

Fr Will said: ‘We have come to mourn for our comrades who gave their lives in the D-Day landings 72 years ago.

‘We pray for all who made the ultimate sacrifice and remember their families, comrades and friends.

‘On June 3, 1944, some 485 ships and landing craft left this very estuary we stand beside to join the vast invasion forces which were to attack Normandy three days later on D-Day, June 6 – the culmination of over a year’s planning and rehearsals.

‘The whole area was involved in this planning, from the civilians who lived beside the Dart; the British servicemen and women who came here to take part in the preparations; to the people of the South Hams who were turned out of their homes and farms to allow practice landings to take place on Slapton beach.

‘They were part of the biggest land operation of the war, one which would lead, if successful, to the defeat of Germany. And this is why we are here today in memory of the American, British and Commonwealth crews who manned those ships and landing craft, especially those who gave their lives in so doing.’

More pictures in Friday’s Dartmouth Chronicle