Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.

News > School News > Claremont remembers

Claremont remembers

75th anniversary of the D-Day landings
Hawker Aircraft at Claremont mansion 1940-1946
Hawker Aircraft at Claremont mansion 1940-1946
Today is the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, also known as the Normandy landings.

D-Day involved the simultaneous landing of more than 130,000 troops on beaches in Normandy on 6 June 1944. Troops from UK, USA, Canada and France landed on five stretches of the Normandy coastline. Of those 4,400 troops died from the combined allied forces and more than 9,000 were wounded or missing.

The allied troops were supported by 7,000 ships, 10,000 vehicles and 12,000 aircrafts, including the Hawker Hurricane Mk IIb, Hawker Tempest Mk V and Hawker Typhoon. Designed by Hawker Aircraft Ltd whose design offices occupied the Claremont mansion from 1940-1946 and were led by chief designer, Sir Sydney Camm. Hurricanes were second only to the Spitfire and are one of the classic fighters of all time, experiencing action in every stage of the Second World War, including D-Day.

77 days after the initial attack the allies gained control of Normandy, before liberating Paris in August 1944.

As a school we are extremely proud to have played our part in the war, providing a safe place for Sir Sydney Camm’s team to carry out work crucial to the war effort. Our newest building is named, the Sir Sydney Camm science and technology building in his honour.

This year’s alumni exhibition tent at summer meeting on Saturday 29 June, will take a look back at Hawker Aircraft’s time at Claremont and is supported by Kingston Aviation. We will also be displaying entries from the prep-school’s humanities competition. Pupils were asked to create a model based on any part of Claremont's history, with a number of pupils choosing this incredible piece of British history.

Photo gallery

To view this News Article

Similar stories

Class of 1977

Alumni fly in for 1977 reunion dinner More...

Dougie will shortly be working at the NASA Ames Research Centre in the Human Factors and Fatigue Countermeasures departm… More...

Over 80 guests joined us in the Great Room as we remembered the life of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales More...

We bid farewell to Mr Insall-Reid after 13 years as Head of the Senior School More...

Celebrating another successful year at Claremont Fan Court School More...

Most read

Past Pupil Matthew Needham stars in Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke at the Almeida Theatre, London More...

Karim Saleh

Former Claremont Fan Court pupil kickstarts international campaign to champion better global health More...

English Classroom - 'Beatrice'

Orlena Lackenbauer, nee Michele Ligon (1963-1966, Esher) returned to visit the school in October 2019. Here she recalls her memories of her time at Cl… More...

Have your say

 
This website is powered by
ToucanTech