THE 75th anniversary of D-Day was marked with a ceremony at the Lydney war memorial.

Another took place at the Dean Heritage Centre at Soudley

The town’s Poppy Appeal organiser, Stan Rudge, said: “The Lydney branch of the Royal British Legion, with the support of Lydney Town Council, held a small ceremony at the town war memorial to pay our respects to the Fallen and surviving veterans on this 75th Anniversary.”

The short service on Thursday, June 6, was led by Rev Nina Summerfield, curate of St Mary’s Church.

The Homage was given by Mr Mike Houghton, the president of the Legion’s Lydney branch, and Last Post and Reveille were played by Miss Rebecca Jessop.

The Kohima Epitaph was given by branch committee member Lynn Daszko.

The Lydney branch and women’s section standards were borne by David and Emma Rudge.

The Royal Naval Association Lydney branch standard was carried by John Birkett.

Town Mayor Cllr Brian Pearman laid a wreath on behalf of the town council followed by a wreath from the Lydney branch of the British Legion, Royal Naval Association, the Gloucestershire Regiment Association and Dean Forest Railway.

Cllr Pearman gave a short speech about the reasons for the ceremony.

Branch chairman Mel Rudge thanked everyone for coming, especially the young bugler, and pupils from the Dean Academy for their support at the 75th anniversary tribute.

Later in the day Mr Rudge and the Legion standard bearers attended a ceremony the Dean Heritage Centre to mark the anniversary.Meanwhile, at town's little known role in D-Day was recalled with the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings. No ships had been built at Chepstow shipyard since the 1920s, but in the Second World War it became the centre for constructing tank landing craft that helped the Allies storm the beaches.Crewed by 12 sailors, they could carry six 40-ton tanks at a time, or nine 30-ton tanks or 12 three-ton lorries, plus up to 36 troops.Prefabricated sections were built in North England and shipped to the Fairfield yard at Chepstow.The first (LCT 589) was launched on November 12, 1942, a day later than planned owing to it getting stuck on the slipway, with frozen grease on the timbers being blamed. The yard was capable of launching one craft every two weeks, and women worked alongside men on the vital project. Parts of the prefabricated Mulberry Harbours used at Omaha and Gold beaches were also constructed in Chepstow ahead of the June 6, 1944, invasion.