A poignant D-Day moment for Marlborough’s mayor as she lays a wreath to the fallen

There were no marching bands, no buglers playing the Last Post, just the roar of passing traffic as, at 11am, the blue and gold standard of Marlborough’s Royal British Legion was dipped at the town’s war memorial.

Then the Mayor, Marian Hannaford-Dobson, stepped forward to lay a wreath in tribute to the fallen at D-Day, the world’s biggest ever seaborne invasion, marking its 70th anniversary today (Friday) at the Barn Street memorial.

And poignantly honouring too her own father, Petty Officer, Charles Radford, who was aboard a minesweeper that crossed the Channel in the dark that night from his home town of Portsmouth.

The event was proceeded by a prayer from Marlborough’s Rector, the Rev Canon Andrew Studdert-Kennedy, “to give thanks to those who lost their lives in the cause of liberating another country and freeing them from tyranny.”

Town councillor Alec Light, chairman of Marlborough’s Royal British Legion, recounted “They shall not grow old…” before red-robed Mayor Marian stepped forward to lay a wreath of poppies.

Then a second wreath was laid by 88-year-old D-Day veteran John Bower, who helped waterproof the tanks that landed on Normandy’s beaches, on behalf of the Legion.

And with the handful of other veterans present, together with town councillors, the Mayor walked back up New Street to the Town Hall on the arm of Mr Bower.

Recalling her father, who died 25 years ago, aged 74, she told Marlborough News Online: “This is indeed an amazingly poignant moment. Southsea, which is a district of Portsmouth and where I spent the first four years of my married life, was the headquarters of General Eisenhower on D-Day.

“He commanded the biggest ever sea and air assault in military history, announcing its launch with the words, ‘OK, let’s go!’
“My father, who was a young newly married Petty Officer in the Royal Navy, was stationed in Portsmouth on D-Day  and I’m sure must have played some part in that momentous event.

“However, like most men of his generation, he rarely, if ever, spoke of his experiences, those serving in the armed forces just did what was expected of them for their country.”

And she added: “I very much regret now that I did not ask him about his wartime experience, although he would probably have been unwilling to tell me.

“There must be many people today who lost love ones in this dreadful war to defeat of the Nazis.  It is indeed a moment to reflect and remember the both the triumph and the despair.”