Key WW2 anniversary ignored, say veteran's family

Victor Todd was born in South Shields in 1913

The family of a World War Two veteran said the 80th anniversary of a decisive battle passed largely unnoticed by the British government this summer.

Sub Lt Victor Todd, a reservist in the Royal Navy, commanded a large landing craft during Operation Dragoon in August 1944.

His son, Steve Todd, attended several services held in Provence last month, but said British officials were absent during many of the events.

The Ministry of Defence said a defence minister and the UK's ambassador to France attended a service held on 15 August and met with President Macron.

Operation Dragoon, when Allied troops invaded Nazi-occupied France along its Mediterranean coast, is considered by some historians as the "other D-Day".

A photo captured by Sub Lt Victor Todd during Operation Dragoon

Steve Todd, from Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire, along with his son and grandson, were invited to the official commemoration by the organiser following a conversation over Facebook last year.

The family had become interested in Victor Todd's career while sifting through photographs and top secret battle maps that he had kept from his two years as a commissioned reservist.

"We went to the main ceremony and virtually the whole world was there," said his son.

"Wreaths were laid by the Americans and French, but no Brits.

"All the flags were raised, including the Union Jack, and Britain's national anthem was played, but the only Britons there were us and half a dozen of ex-pats."

"It was very disappointing," he added.

Steve Todd has his father's top secret battle map, which is more than 80 years old

Operation Dragoon should have happened on the same day as D-Day but the invasion was repeatedly deferred due to British fears that it would sap the campaign in Italy.

The amphibious invasion saw hundreds of thousands of largely French and American troops land on beaches between Cavalaire-sur-Mer and Saint-Raphaël.

Approximately 5,000 British paratroopers landed behind German lines the night before the attack to prepare the beaches for invasion.

The Royal Navy also supplied 250 warships and seven small aircraft carriers, along with 1,500 support ships.

"The Normandy campaign isn't a success without Operation Dragoon because you have to protect your southern flank," said historian Peter Caddick-Adams.

"People often overlook the need for large harbours... within weeks the Allies have control of the ports of Toulon and Marseille, and by the end of the war, a million men and five million tonnes of supplies passed through them.

"It's largely seen as a French victory, while us Brits are content to make the Normandy landings (D-Day) our major focus for anniversaries."

Hundreds of events are taking place in Provence this year to mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Dragoon.

The towns and beaches along the coastline have many memorials and monuments, which pay homage to Allied and French forces.

The Ministry of Defence said: "Defence Minister Maria Eagle and HM Ambassador to France, Menna Rawlings, attended France’s commemorations in Provence on 15 August.

"The Minister was pleased to meet President Macron at the commemorations, as well as spending time with the French Defence Minister and the French Veterans Minister.

"The MOD has been at the centre of major commemorations for the 80th anniversaries of D-Day, the Battle of Monte Cassino and Operation Dragoon this year and will also attend commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem in The Netherlands later this month."