Wreath's special journey to mark D-Day landings

A hospital in Cornwall said it helped send a unique poppy wreath on a "special journey" to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Camborne Redruth Community Hospital said the wreath began its journey on Armed Forces Day in Falmouth last year and would finish in Normandy, France on Thursday.

It will have been 80 years on Thursday since more than 150,000 British, Canadian, and American troops landed in a combined assault on Nazi-occupied France.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said the hospital was "one of the many sites" the wreath travelled to across the Duchy.

The wreath will be laid alongside seven other similar wreaths from across the UK and NATO and Commonwealth countries.

Iain Henderson, trustee of The Veterans Charity, said remembrance happened "any and every day for veterans".

Mr Henderson said: "Cornwall is packed with its own, often hidden history of the build up to D-D-Day. Some are obvious but perhaps overlooked ... We need to keep remembrance alive before the history is lost.

"This wreath visiting groups and venues hopefully plays its part in this endeavour."

The wreath was also part of celebrations to mark the hospital becoming the second in the trust to achieve Veteran Aware status.

The hospital said the Veteran Aware accreditation meant the site could offer a range of care services for the local Armed Forces community.

Trust chief executive Debbie Richards and matron Sue Greenwood unveiled a plaque inside the main entrance at the hospital.

Ms Greenwood said they were "immensely proud" of their work which recognised veterans, their families and staff who have served.

She added: "This award demonstrates that we wish to do more to support future generations of our serving personnel and veterans."

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