FIREFIGHTERS in Buckfastleigh have been singing the praises of the Royal British Legion’s garden in the town.

When returning to the station after a routine call-out they saw the garden commemorating D-Day and stopped to take a look and take some photos.

They said: ‘We’d just returned from assisting a member of the community when we drove past the memorial garden and just had to stop and have a closer look.

‘It’s fantastic, a massive well-done to all at the RBL and anyone else who tends this. Brilliant.’

Emma Distin, of the town’s Royal British Legion, replied to their posting on social media, giving the story behind this year’s display.

She said: ‘This year our memorial garden is a fitting tribute to D-Day and is dedicated to the memory of Buckfastleigh hero John Henley and his comrades, who landed on the beaches of Normandy 75 years ago.’

Emma said the display is titled D-Day 75 – By Land, By Air, By Sea and was designed by herself and managed by Julia Anne Rouncefield, to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings and as a nod to Buckfastleigh during the Second World War.

She added: ‘While once again our ‘silent soldier’ silhouette stands at the heart of the display, he has been joined by three new miniature additions – a Sherman tank, a battleship and a Spitfire made by local company Western Waterjet Ltd.

‘Our red remembrance roses are joined by a pink standard rose meaning “grace” and a yellow rose meaning “appreciation”.

‘The flowerbed has been planted with yellow French marigolds to represent the yellow sands on the Normandy beaches. Marigolds themselves have many connotations to various religions, including meanings of grief, bravery and courage.

‘Three new fuchsias named for Winston Churchill provide a further link to the Second World War and his famous speech about the beaches.

‘The sandbags remain as a nod to the sandbagged machine-gun placement that once stood at the very same crossroads. And the tank silhouette is positioned closest to Crest Hill where legend has it a tank got stuck during the Second World War.

‘The bollards protecting the area have been wrapped in ship’s rope to further illustrate the role that the battleships played in D-Day.

‘Fingers crossed for a good growing season and further success with Britain in Bloom.’