COMMEMORATION of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Avranches took place on July 31 and sixteen members of Crediton Twinning Association attended the event.   

The town was liberated by the USA in 1944
The town was liberated by the USA in 1944 (Contributed)

The programme was excellent and ensured an enjoyable time was had by all who were well looked after by their hosts.   

Laying floral tributes
Laying floral tributes (Contributed)

At the formal part of the commemoration, wreaths were laid at the Place Patton Memorial.   

Crediton's D-Day 80 poppy wreath
Crediton's D-Day 80 poppy wreath to Avranches (Contributed)

A D-Day poppy wreath was laid on behalf of Crediton by Association Chairman Jenni Pitts and Deputy Mayor of Crediton Steve Huxtable.   

A large number of WWII vehicles and aircraft were on show and a reconstruction of the battle was enacted involving a large number of people dressed as soldiers. 

Avranches is located in Normandy in France. It was occupied by Nazi Germany during the Second World War and was liberated by the United States of America on July 31, 1944. 

Peter Brewer