THE Commonwealth War Graves Commission is honouring those who died on D-Day heroes by laying tributes at graves in Normandy on behalf of those who can't travel to France.

Every year veterans and other visitors travel to CWGC’s cemeteries in France to remember those killed on D-Day and the pivotal battles of 1944. This year CWGC’s gardeners in France will place markers bearing the words ‘Their Name Liveth For Evermore’ in time for the 76th anniversary of D-Day on Saturday, June 6.

Requests can be submitted online, alongside a message to be displayed on CWGC’s digital Wall of Remembrance.

The move comes as the public are encouraged to #ShareYourTribute online and remember the wartime generations despite major commemorations this year being cancelled or hosted virtually due to coronavirus.

On June 6, 1944 the Allies launched the largest ever seaborne invasion on the Northern shores of France. The action was a turning point in the Second World War and signalled the beginning of the end for the Nazi occupation of France and Western Europe.

There are more than 22,000 Commonwealth war dead buried in the CWGC's cemeteries, and many more graves in churchyards and village cemeteries in the region.

Xavier Puppinck, CWGC’s France area director, said: “When we welcomed thousands of veterans and visitors to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day we couldn’t have imagined how different things would be just one year later. While it is sad that we cannot host any large gatherings this summer to pay respect in person, we can still pause and remember.

“We want our Commonwealth communities to keep alive those D-Day memories and #ShareYourTribute to our digital wall of remembrance. As an extra gesture we will also be laying tributes on behalf of those wishing to remember someone at one of CWGC’s main sites in Normandy. We hope this small act will show that, together, we can remember those who died in the World Wars forever.”

* Visit cwgc.org/share-your-tribute