Operation Dragoon ‘overlooked’ as government fails to confirm attendance at 80th anniversary commemorations
Operation Dragoon was a decisive operation in the Second World War. The landings in Provence on 15th August 1944 resulted in the liberation of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region by the Allied Forces just weeks later. Yet, British veterans are worried that it is being “airbrushed from history” as the new UK government has failed to confirm its attendance at a major international commemoration to mark the Operation’s 80th anniversary.
Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces Stuart Anderson MP has said he has called on the Defence Secretary to confirm the UK’s attendance at the major event. It comes after he was contacted by a constituent, whose father commanded one of the large landing craft in the operation, who was told there will be no British representation. The constituent, his son, and grandson will be attending and hoped there would be official British representation at the event.
Stuart has asked the Defence Secretary to “urgently review” the decision, given the significance of the Operation which involved the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and the Army including British commandos and paratroopers. The Operation also included over 100 British vessels and more than 2000 British aircraft together with the cruiser HMS Argonaut, which had assisted with the Normandy Landings and fired the most rounds of any ship in the fleet.
The Operation linked up with Allied forces in Normandy and saw Provence liberated within weeks. The Union Flag now flies at the landing site memorial near Saint-Raphaël (Camel Beach) together with the US and French flags. The US and France have already confirmed their attendance, in addition to others.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Operation Dragoon was a decisive operation in the Second World War, leading to the liberation of Southern France within weeks. Members of the British Armed Forces played an integral role in the Operation’s success. Yet, their enormous contribution is seemingly being overlooked by the UK’s new government. The father of one of my constituent’s commanded a large landing craft in that historic operation in 1944. My constituent will be attending the 80th anniversary commemorations together with his son and grandson. For a year, he has been trying to secure official British representation at the event. He has now been informed this is not going to happen. Naturally, he feels that this pivotal operation is being “airbrushed from history.” The situation is very disappointing. I have written directly to the Secretary of State, who I hope will urgently review the decision and ensure that there is British representation at this important international commemoration for our Armed Forces.”
Stuart, who was appointed as Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces in July, himself served in the Armed Forces from the age of 16 – following in his own father’s footsteps. In Stuart’s own constituency of South Shropshire, there are more than 4,000 veterans. This represents almost one in ten households in the local community.
