D-Day 80: BAE Systems' lineage can be traced back to the companies who were supporting the British war effort

Many former service personnel work for BAE Systems today and are able to share their stories of what D-Day means to them. The company is also proud to support our Armed Forces across a diverse range of projects and

fundraising activities, including being the principle sponsor of a new visitor centre at the British Normandy Memorial.

D-Day will soon pass from living memory, making it more important than ever to create opportunities for our younger generations to understand and remember the sacrifices made that day.

Working with the Normandy Memorial Trust, BAE Systems is principle sponsor in the construction of a new visitor centre, ‘The Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning’ at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France which opened on June 6 as as part of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Cressida Hogg, Chair of BAE Systems, said: “As a company with a strong heritage in protecting our armed forces, I’m incredibly proud that we can play our part in honouring the courage and sacrifice of those men and women who gave so much to protect our freedoms.”

General The Lord Richard Dannatt, Chairman of Trustees, Normandy Memorial Trust, said: “The purpose of this education centre is to ensure that new generations never forget what Britain did for Europe in 1944 and to remember the sacrifice of so many. We are delighted that the centre’s principal sponsor is Britain’s premier defence company BAE Systems. Like us, they recognise the importance of understanding the past and learning its lessons.”

In addition to the company’s £600,000 donation to help build the centre, its employees have volunteered their time to support preparations for the anniversary. In April, a BAE Systems team helped install 1,475 silhouettes in the meadows around the Memorial, one for every soldier, sailor and airman killed while serving under British command on D-Day. This unique art installation, the work of charity Standing with Giants, will remain in place until the end of August.

Connections with D-Day

Ex-soldier Grant Peden is one of the many former service men and women now working for BAE Systems. Having previously served as a Reservist in the Parachute Regiment, Grant is took part in a symbolic parachute jump into the original Normandy drop zones for the anniversary of D-Day.

Grant, a Business Manager with Battlespace Integrated Solutions for BAE Systems Australia, said: “I’m incredibly proud to be part of a company with a strong heritage in protecting our armed forces. As a veteran, the opportunity to honour the courage and sacrifice of those men and women who gave so much to protect our freedoms is something very close to my heart.”

The parachute drop was a huge operation involving several organisations conducting several drops onto the original US and UK Drop Zones during the week of the D-Day 80 commemorations. Grant jumped with Pathfinder Parachute Group. The club carried out five parachute drops near Sannerville, Normandy, from an original C-47 Dakota aircraft, ‘Placid Lassie’ of D-Day Squadron. As it was a commemorative jump, as a mark of respect, all parachutists wore the uniform of the day.

Before the jump Grant said: "It will be an honour to commemorate those men and women who gave so much to protect our freedoms and I am proud to be part of a company that protects those who protect us.”

Meanwhile, this year’s anniversary is also poignant for Mark Worthington who attended the 75th D-Day events with his grandfather John. Mark, a Ships Service Team Manager with BAE Systems Maritime Services in Portsmouth, explained: “My late grandfather took part in the D-Day landings. He never really talked about it until the 75th anniversary when he was invited to attend the memorial events in France and Portsmouth.

“Together we returned to Juno beach along with several other veterans, the beach he had landed on during D-Day. We took part in memorial services. This was a special time for my grandfather and for myself.”

Mark’s grandfather, John William Worthington, passed away on 19th October 2021, his ashes were buried along with the small pot of sand he collected when he and Mark visited Juno beach.

Mark said: “He always said the real heroes were the young men that lost their lives as they left the landing craft that day. As far as he was aware he was the only one from his landing craft that survived D-Day. It was poignant for us both as I also served in the Royal Navy.”