D Day landings commemorated

Monday June 8, 2009

Did you know that the D-Day landings were planned in Hammersmith?

Now, to commemorate that piece of history, a special plaque has been unveiled exactly 65 years to the day after what many people believe was a turning point of World War Two.

The Normandy landings on June 6 1944 were planned by General Montgomery and others in what used to be St Paul’s School. On May 15 1944 the final invasion plan was presented to General Eisenhower and senior allied commanders in the school lecture theatre, in the presence of King George VI and the Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Nowadays, a gate pillar at the entrance to St Paul’s Open Space on Hammersmith Road, together with the High Master’s House, are all that remain of the school buildings.

So that was deemed to be the most suitable location for plaque, which was officially unveiled by the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Cllr Alex Karmel, on Saturday June 6 2009.

Cllr Karmel, said: “It was my great pleasure to officially unveil this plaque. Hammersmith & Fulham has a rich cultural and historical heritage and it is only right that we mark such an important moment in time. We are eternally grateful to the bravery of the men who organised, and indeed fought, at Normandy and this plaque will serve as a reminder of our appreciation."

Angela Dixon, chairman of the Hammersmith & Fulham Historic Buildings Group, said: “Our borough has many interesting buildings and places but passers by often don’t know their history. The planning of D-Day was an important historical event that took place in Hammersmith and we are delighted, to help commemorate it.”