It
was
80
years
ago
today,
on
6
June
1944,
that
Allied
forces
began
landing
on
the
French
coast
to
begin
the
invasion
and
liberation
of
occupied
Europe.

The
operation
was
a
success,
and
the
Second
World
War
ended
in
Europe
with
the
defeat
of
the
Nazis
just
over
11
months
later.

South
Western
Railway
has
dedicated
one
of
its
trains
to
the
D-Day
Story
Museum
in
Portsmouth
to
commemorate
the
anniversary
of
the
Normandy
Landings.

Local
school
children,
South
Western
Railway
staff,
the
Lord
Mayor
of
Portsmouth,
Royal
Navy
sailors
and
others
were
guests
at
the
special
event
at
Portsmouth
Harbour
station.

For
its
journey
to
Portsmouth,
the
train
was
guarded
by
SWR
Guards
Inspector
Andy
Dennis,
who
joined
the
Army
when
he
was
19
and
served
for
22
years.

To
help
educate
the
next
generation
about
D-Day,
South
Western
Railway
has
sponsored
the
admission
of
100
children
to
the
Portsmouth
museum.

The
museum
explains
and
illustrates
the
crucial
part
which
Portsmouth
and
its
citizens
played
in
the
liberation
of
Europe,
using
the
personal
possessions
and
words
of
the
people
who
were
there.

SWR
customer
and
commercial
director
Peter
Williams
presented
a
matching
name
plate
to
the
Lord
Mayor
of
Portsmouth,
Councillor
Jason
Fazackarley.

The
special
event
was
witnessed
by
30
children
from
local
schools,
including
the
band
from
Petersfield
School,
as
well
as
pupils
from
the
Priory
School
in
Fratton.
After
the
naming
ceremony,
the
children
visited
the
museum,
courtesy
of
SWR.

Peter
Williams
said:
‘We
are
proud
to
commemorate
the
80th
anniversary
of
the
Normandy
Landings
by
dedicating
one
of
our
trains
to
the
D-Day
Story
Museum
in
Portsmouth.

‘D-Day
holds
such
significance
in
the
history
of
the
whole
world.
Portsmouth,
one
of
the
key
cities
we
serve
on
our
network,
played
an
important
role
in
that
heroic
operation.

‘Ensuring
that
the
bravery
of
those
who
took
part
is
never
forgotten
is
a
mission
we
eagerly
support,
which
is
why
we
are
so
pleased
to
be
sponsoring
the
admission
of
100
children
to
the
museum.

‘The
railway
was
vitally
important
for
making
the
Normandy
Landings
a
success,
and
members
of
the
Armed
Forces
community
continue
to
make
an
invaluable
contribution
to
the
railway
today,
including
many
colleagues
in
SWR.’