From June 6th 2024

Nothe Fort is delighted to announce that it will be presenting a new exhibition to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The exhibition will explore and commemorate the role of Nothe Fort and Weymouth’s residents in the preparations for the D-Day operations of 1944.

Working with an interpretation designer, the fort’s volunteer curatorial team is presenting a story that allows fort visitors to really get a feel for the experiences of soldiers and local people alike in the build up to Operation Overlord, the codename given to the Battle of Normandy, the WWII Allied operation that launched the liberation of German-occupied Western Europe.

Local residents have generously come forward to share their memories of this pivotal point in WWII when Weymouth became a key location for the arrival and departure of Allied forces preparing to invade Nazi occupied France. Joining together with the fort’s volunteer curatorial team, residents’ memories are being recorded for posterity and made available to visitors to listen to and enjoy in a specially designed Weymouth at War section of the exhibition.

The exhibition is featuring a series of specially edited films full of rarely seen still and moving images that capture the energetic atmosphere of Weymouth when American forces arrived and prepared for their departure to Omaha Beach in Normandy.

Volunteers from Nothe Fort will be presenting several guided walks around the exhibition space and the surrounding area to further bring the stories to life.

The exhibition will provide a host of family friendly displays carefully curated to share the story of Weymouth’s role in D-Day.

Visitors will have the opportunity to find out about Robert Capa – reputed to be one of the greatest war photographers of all time – and the journey he undertook from Weymouth to Normandy that resulted in some of the most iconic WWII images ever captured.

Nothe Fort is delighted to be working in partnership with Weymouth Museum to share their photographic collection.

Evening of Thursday June 6th 2024

Weymouth Town Council and The Nothe Fort are thrilled to announce a special commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday 6th June 2024. Taking place at The Nothe Fort, this event will be an evening of reflection, entertainment, and community spirit.

The evening will feature performances, exhibits, and activities that commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of those involved in D-Day. Stay tuned for further updates on performances and activities.

The Nothe Fort is also developing an exhibition highlighting the human cost of D-Day, designed to be family-friendly. The story will be conveyed through models, video presentations, newspaper reports, voice recordings of residents’ stories, and images from Weymouth Museum.

Additional activities for the D-Day commemorative event include:

• An outdoor big screen set up at the Nothe Gardens, broadcasting national commemoration events and historical footage relevant to the era.
• Presentations tailored for school assemblies created by Weymouth Museum.
• “D-Day immersive soundscape” at The Nothe Fort’s observational tower, providing an engaging auditory experience.
• Display of static military vehicles, adding an authentic touch to the event.
• Planning of walking tours and boat tours around the town, offering unique perspectives on local history.
• Allocation of £3,500 for grants supporting community-based events or activities related to D-Day.

To find out more about the grants, click the following link – D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemorations – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council