D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemorative event

Join us at Eden Camp as we commemorate the heroes of history on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Step back in time and experience the courage, sacrifice, and triumph of the Allied forces as they stormed the beaches of Normandy.

The D-Day invasion holds immense significance in World War Two. It marked a turning point in the conflict, as it led to the eventual surrender of Nazi Germany less than a year later in 1945.

Walk through our immersive exhibits, where history comes to life, and gain a deeper understanding of the pivotal moments that shaped our world. From the daring paratrooper drops to the fierce battles on the sands, every step you take will be a tribute to the bravery of those who fought for freedom.

There will be extra events over the weekend including presentations on the weapons and equipment used by both sides during Operation Overlord, the role played by US Airborne troops and learn about Piper Bill, the loan piper who played ‘Highland Laddie’, ‘The Road to the Isles’ and ‘All the Blue Bonnets Are over the Border’ on Gold beach on D-Day.

Don’t miss this opportunity to commemorate a defining moment in history and honour the heroes who changed the course of World War II. Join us at Eden Camp for our D-Day 80th anniversary event and let us remember together the bravery and sacrifice of those who made history.

Things to see at Eden Camp…

Crocodile Tank

See our ‘Crocodile’ Mark IV Churchill tank, currently under restoration at Eden Camp. It was just one of many variants of Churchill that was designed by Major General Percy Hobart specifically for the Normandy Landings.

The disastrous Allied commando raid on the beaches of Dieppe in August 1942 highlighted the problems of landing tanks and armoured vehicles from the sea. With a vast experience of tank warfare behind him, the Commander in Chief of the Allied Ground Forces for D-Day, General (later Field Marshal) Bernard Montgomery called for the tanks and heavy armoured vehicles which would be landing on the heavily fortified beaches of Normandy to incorporate a number of special features and variations. These tanks and vehicles collectively became known as Hobart’s Funnies.

These tanks undoubtedly helped British and Canadian troops to successfully establish and hold beach heads when they landed in Normandy on June 6th.

The D-Day Map Plotting Machine

See one the only surviving D-Day map plotting machines in existence. This machine, Wild Autograph Model A5 – No.54, played a crucial role in planning and executing the D-Day landings. It was used to create detailed maps and charts for military strategists and commanders. Imagine the precision required to plot troop movements, landing zones, and other critical information on these maps!

Become a D-Day Code Cracker

Enrol yourselves to Eden Camp’s Ultra intelligence team to take part in our code cracker trail and around museum to find the secret codeword. Crack the code and win a prize!