A new D-Day beacon has been installed on Southsea seafront by Portsmouth City Council, close to Landing Craft Tank (LCT) 7074 and The D-Day Story museum. This marks the 82nd anniversary of D-Day and adding to Portsmouth’s offer as the UK’s home of D-Day.

The beacon has been positioned on a newly prepared base next to the museum and forms part of ongoing work to enhance the seafront and celebrate the city’s historic role in the events of 6 June 1944.

Designed and manufactured by maritime engineers at BAE Systems in Portsmouth, the beacon was originally commissioned for a D-Day 80 ceremony at the Naval Dockyard. It has now been given a permanent home in the city, strengthening links between Portsmouth’s naval, industrial and cultural heritage.

The beacon features five steel plates, each named after one of the Normandy landing beaches. Above each name is a glass capsule containing sand from that beach, creating a lasting tribute to the international effort behind the D-Day landings.

The installation also includes a new interpretation panel to help visitors understand the significance of the beacon and its connection to Portsmouth’s role in D-Day.

Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: “Portsmouth played a central role in the preparations for D-Day, and it’s important we continue to reflect and share that story with residents and visitors. This new beacon is a fitting addition to the seafront, helping to bring history to life while enhancing the area for everyone who visits.

“I would like to pay tribute to Commodore John Voyce OBE, former Naval Base Commander Portsmouth, who suggested the positioning of the beacon on public land in the city, rather than within the base, so that it could be appreciated by a much larger number of people.”

The new feature improves a small, previously underused area of land near the car park entrance and complements wider improvements to the seafront through the Southsea Coastal Scheme, creating a more attractive and accessible public space for residents and visitors.

The project has been delivered in partnership with BAE Systems and builds on the Council’s work to celebrate Portsmouth’s unique maritime heritage and its role in shaping world history.