New memorial in Leven commemorates 80th anniversary of D Day Landings

The memorial on the anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Leven and (inset) after improvements by veteran Drew Hall
-Credit: (Image: Leven Parish Council)


A memorial to the D-Day Landings in Leven has been built and recently improved upon by a local veteran.

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in June, Leven Parish Council commissioned a memorial for the village supported by grant funding from East Riding of Yorkshire Council. This was unveiled at a village event.

The village invited ex Armed Forces personnel to help commemorate the anniversary. One of those taking part was Andrew Hall, known as Drew, who had recently moved to Leven.

After the event, Drew came to a Parish Council Meeting and asked if he could enhance the memorial in his own time and presented his idea to the meeting. The Parish and Holy Trinity Church, whose land the memorial sits were supportive of this development and welcomed his generous offer.

Drew has now completed the work and has created around the Parish Council's memorial a framework which has elevated the area as a place for others to pay respect to those who fought and died in that significant battle.

Sand from the five D-Day beaches in Normandy: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword
Sand from the five D-Day beaches in Normandy: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword -Credit:Leven Parish Council

The structure took over 16 hours to produce. Drew secured support from Jewsons of Beverley who supplied materials. He buried five small jars each containing the sand from the five beaches in Normandy: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.

He also included sand from the three British beaches mixed into the mortar mix for the front edge, so the structure really does have a link to Normandy. The structure itself represents the beach defences and the resin base looks like the beach itself.

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Drew has committed to maintaining the memorial on behalf of the community which has been warmly welcomed. He has also tidied up the grave of flight Sergeant John William Petch in Holy Trinity Church cemetery for the community 49 Sqn. John died on 22nd April 1945 in a crash whilst transferring airfields only 16 days before the end of the war.

The grave of flight Sargeant John William Petch in Holy Trinity Church cemetery
The grave of flight Sargeant John William Petch in Holy Trinity Church cemetery -Credit:Leven Parish Council

The Parish Council has now asked Drew to lay a poppy wreath, on the memorial on Remembrance Day. Drew himself served in the Royal Artillery with 20 Commando Battery for 12 years and then served with the Army Reserves for 12 years as a Combat Medical Technician in the Royal Army Medical Corps serving with 4th Battalion The Royal Yorkshire Regiment.

Every generation of Drew's family has served the crown since 1795. His youngest son now serving in the RAF, keeping up with the tradition.