The remarkable role Portsmouth played in D-Day can now be discovered in a host of new locations around the city, produced by The D-Day Story museum.
As part of the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations, a series of new D-Day Story pop-up museums have been launched in libraries and popular places.
The displays can be found in North End Library and Central Library, as well as Southsea Castle and Gunwharf Quays, during normal opening hours for each venue. A D-Day display launched in Cosham Library earlier this year, meaning five pop-up D-Day museums can now be found around Portsmouth.
Each pop-up features stories and pictures of local places and people involved in the Normandy Campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe in 1944, and describes how local civilians witnessed these dramatic events. The displays also feature some local men and women who died during the campaign.
Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said:
“These new pop-up museums tell of the city’s key role in the build up and events of D-Day, when thousands of troops set sail from Portsmouth to embark on the largest seaborne invasion in history.
“Following the huge D-Day 80 commemorations hosted by Portsmouth in June, we are bringing the stories of D-Day into our communities to keep them alive for generations to come. Although the 80th anniversary of D-Day has now passed, we should continue to remember the vital part played by the city and the surrounding area in these decisive events.”
The new pop-up museums have been made possible thanks to generous sponsorship. Victorious Festival is sponsoring both the North End Library and Central Library exhibitions, and Sirius Analysis is supporting the display at Southsea Castle.
A Victorious Festival spokesperson said:
“We love our hometown and we’re very proud of our Portsmouth heritage. One of our main goals is to contribute to the city we live and operate in and that’s why we’re really pleased to have sponsored two of the pop-up museum displays that will enable people to find out more about the city’s contributions to the D-Day Landings.”
David Bangert, director at Sirius Analysis, said:
“In the 80th year since the D-Day landings, we are proud to support The D-Day Story. It is very humbling to be able to help the museum in bringing this important story to more people through their outreach and education programme.
“With several ex-service personnel working for Sirius Analysis, and our headquarters based on Portsdown Hill, supporting the museum this year gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to veterans, serving British Armed Forces personnel, and education charities.”
The D-Day Story would also like to thank Gunwharf Quays for hosting one of the displays.
A summary about each display can be found on The D-Day Story’s website: https://theddaystory.com/discover/blog/.
The pop-up museums in the two libraries will be open throughout 2024, while those at Southsea Castle and Gunwharf will be in place until October this year.
People can find out more about the wider story of D-Day by visiting The D-Day Story museum, located on Southsea seafront. The museum is open seven days a week, and you can find out more at www.theddaystory.com or by phoning 023 9288 2555.