D-Day blue plaque installed, replacing fallen stone

The blue plaque replaces a stone that fell off the wall in 2024

A blue plaque commemorating the role of Poole in D-Day has been installed on the town's quay.

The circular plaque, on the wall of Customs House, acknowledges the town's contribution during Operation Overlord in 1944.

It replaces a commemorative stone, originally unveiled for the 40th anniversary of D-Day, which fell off the wall in 2024.

The replacement was paid for through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge paid by developers.

More than 300 vessels and thousands of troops set sail from Poole Harbour for the for the Battle of Normandy, codenamed Operation Overlord.

Local companies were also a major supplier of boats and materials.

Culture councillor Andy Martin said: "Poole played a pivotal role in the D-Day landings as the third biggest embarkation point for Overlord forces, helping to liberate Europe and defeat Nazi Germany.

"It is vital we remember that contribution and we all continue to tell and retell these stories when there are no eyewitnesses or participants left, decades on from the momentous events."