SUNDAY will be the 60th anniversary of D-Day and the Normandy Landings in France in June 1944.

It was the largest invasion by sea and was the beginning of the end of the Second World War. The huge armada of ships landed 156,000 troops on the beaches of Normandy by nightfall, to tackle the formidable fortifications of Fortress Europe. Men of the British Sixth Airborne Division were ahead of the sea borne invasion, arriving by glider, seizing bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne and destroying an artillery battery.

A service of thanksgiving and remembrance has been organised by the Andover branch of the Royal British Legion and it will be held in the Garden of Remembrance to the south of St Mary's Parish Church, Andover on Sunday at 12.15pm.

A parade of ex-service personnel and representatives from the youth and other uniformed organisations together with a squadron from 26 and 22 Engineer Regiments will form up in Bridge Street under the parade marshall, Mr Malcolm Cox.

The parade will march to the Garden of Remembrance at 11.45am ready for the service which will be led by the Rev David Williams.

The lesson will be read by the Rev John Aston and the sermon will be given by the Revd (Squadron Leader) Jonathan Beach, RAF chaplain at present serving at the Combined Forces Chaplaincy School at Amport House, near Andover.

The Lucknow Military Band will both lead the parade and provide the music during the service when wreaths will be laid by Test Valley Mayor Cllr Neville Whiteley; Mr John Goddard on behalf of the Royal Naval Association; Sir Michael Wilford, on behalf of the various Army associations and Air Vice Marshall JIR Bowring on behalf of the Royal Air Forces Association.

A march past will take place along Eastern Avenue.