Whitwick Royal British Legion has issued an appeal for anyone whose relative played a part in the D-Day Landings in 1944.

The RBL is organising an 80th anniversary D-Day service at the Clock Tower in Coalville on June 9.

Part of the ceremony will be to include descendants, as well as surviving soldiers, of those who were involved in the operation which was to signal the 'beginning of the end' of World War II on June 6.

The D-Day landings took place on June 6, 1944. Image: Pixabay

Whitwick branch chairman, Phil Beet, is one of the event organisers and he explained who he is interested in hearing from in the Coalville area.

Phil told Coalville Nub News: "We're particularly looking for information from people in the community who may have had family involved on the day in one form or another.

"It could be anything from Suppliers, Army, Navy, Marine commandos and the RAF.

"There are names on the Coalville War Memorial, but there may be more out there.

"We're putting the appeal out now so that we can get it right on the day and make sure we remember what happened in the Normandy Landings.

"But we've already heard from a few people and we're starting to get things together."

Whitwick RBL is well known for commemorating wartime events - this is a photo from the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War. Photo: Coalville Nub News

Phil is keen to build up a collection of names, paperwork and photographs that are linked to the operation.

He added: "Anybody whose relatives, parents or grandparents who took part in the D-Day landings, it's that information we're after."

Coalville is set to mark the occasion in grand style and Phil says remembering landmarks such as these is vital.

He added: "We feel that it's important that we do all of these types of events because, without what happened, we wouldn't be where we are today.

"Coalville does this very well, it's the Royal British Legion and it's a heck of a lot of work goes into it.

"But I would say you know, we are being very well supported by North West Leicestershire District Council. That's well worth mentioning. 

"We're already looking forward to next year when of course it'll be the the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe and Japan."

People can email Phil at: [email protected] or by telephone: 07720 345037.