80th Anniversary of D-Day Celebrated at Trebah Garden

Photo: L-R: Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE (Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall); Jon Cummins, CEO of Trebah Garden; Tom French, trustee of the Royal Cornwall Branch of the Parachute Regimental Association; Captain Stuart Irwin, RNAS Culdrose

On Saturday, 1st June, Trebah Garden hosted its annual Military Day, commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. This year’s event held special significance as it honoured the garden’s role in the largest seaborne invasion in history. The day of remembrance and celebration welcomed veterans and guests, featuring military vehicles, performances, and a moving memorial service.

Historic Significance of Trebah Garden

Trebah Garden, located on the Cornish coast, played a pivotal role in the D-Day operations of World War II. In June 1944, it served as the embarkation point for 7,500 men of the 29th US Infantry Division. These soldiers, along with their tanks, guns, and transport, departed from Trebah’s beach in ten 150-foot flat-bottomed LST landing craft. They faced enormous seas for five days before joining the D-Day assault on Omaha Beach, Normandy, where they endured significant casualties.

The preparations for the departure transformed Trebah Beach. The original granite boathouse was demolished, a large jetty was constructed, and flexible concrete matting was laid to allow vehicle access. These modifications were crucial in facilitating the regiment’s movement to the battlefield.

A Day of Remembrance

The commemorative events included performances by Kernow Pipe and Drums, the Culdrose Military Wives Choir, and singer Rachel Best. In the afternoon, a short memorial service was held, featuring the Last Post and Reveille. This was followed by a helicopter wreath-laying at sea, with support from RNAS Culdrose, the RNLI, and the Helford River Gig Club.

Trebah Garden’s CEO, Jon Cummins, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “Military Day is much more than an event for us at Trebah. It’s vital we play our part in commemorating the brave men and women who embarked at Trebah Beach, that we highlight what happened here as part of our wider local history and that we continue to host Military Day annually, which has become a tradition in itself.”

Continuing the Tradition

The annual Military Day at Trebah began under the ownership of Major Tony Hibbert MBE MC and Eira Hibbert. After a distinguished military career, including participation in the Battle of Arnhem and receiving the Military Cross in 1945, Tony and Eira acquired Trebah in 1981. They restored the garden before transferring ownership to the Trebah Garden Trust in 1990. Their legacy lives on through the continued tradition of Military Day.

Tom French, trustee of the Royal Cornwall Branch of the Parachute Regimental Association, highlighted the longstanding connection between the association and Trebah Garden. He said, “For over 25 years we have commemorated the brave deeds of the men of the 29th US Infantry Division at Trebah. The Royal Cornwall Branch of the Parachute Regimental Association’s connection with Trebah Garden began through one of our late Presidents, Major Tony Hibbert, and we will continue to remember the sacrifice that generation made.”

Acknowledgments

The event was made possible with the help of the Parachute Regimental Association Royal Cornwall Branch and the Mawnan Smith Women’s Institute. The entire team at Trebah expressed their gratitude for the support, ensuring the successful commemoration of this significant anniversary.

As the 80th anniversary of D-Day is marked, Trebah Garden continues to honour its historical legacy and the brave soldiers who embarked from its shores, ensuring their stories and sacrifices are remembered by future generations.