RESIDENTS with family connections to D-Day are being encouraged to tell their stories ahead of an exhibition and parade in Wrexham later this year.

On Thursday June 6, 2024 the UK will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings of 1944, with a series of major commemorations and events across the UK and in France.

A church service will take place at St Giles Church in Wrexham on Thursday, June 6 at 1pm followed by a parade through the city centre to the Normandy Veterans Association Memorial located on Bodhyfryd

Event organisers are seeking help with staging an exhibition at St Giles church to acknowledge Wrexham’s contribution to Operation Overlord.

Despite already having a host of stories to tell, volunteers are hoping to hear from residents with connections to D-Day, ahead of the anniversary later this year. 

A spokesperson for the event said: "We already have for display flags of the eighteen Allied countries who fought on the Normandy beaches, the story of David Lord VC, DFC, who flew missions on D-Day dropping paratroops into Normandy, the US Army Engineering Unit being based at Acton Hall ,who were involved with staging the landings.

"One local story we will tell is that of Ted Edwards (originally from Rhostyllen) who served with the Green Howards regiment, who landed on Gold beach.

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"Ted was awarded the Legion d’ Honneur by the French Government in 2014, along with all surviving veterans to mark the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.

"Ted was Chairman and last surviving member of the Wrexham branch of the Normandy Veterans Association."

If you have a family connection to the Battle of Normandy and would like to share your story as part of the exhibition then please contact Paul Smith on 07787 735 171 or by emailing labradene@hotmail.com