I want to pay tribute to all those men and women who served in D-Day and in World War II as a whole, as we commemorate the D-Day landings today.

The soldiers, naval and air forces from the Reading area and Berkshire played a significant part in the landings and the subsequent campaigns. Many made the ultimate sacrifice to defeat Hitler and the Nazis, and to defend the freedom we enjoy today.

Locally, Battalions from the Royal Berkshire regiment played a role in the Normandy landings. Please visit the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum here for more information on their involvement in the landings and the continental campaigns.

Many served in the RAF, Royal Navy and in other roles, Information about other services is available here:

RAF

Royal Navy

And, see here for more details of how families coped on the home front.