CIVIC chiefs in Southampton have come under fire for not organising D-Day commemorations in the city with residents saying the council let the city down.

Southampton City Council (SCC) is being urged to organise events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6.

The Queen and US President Donald Trump are set to attend D-Day commemorations in Portsmouth on June 5 and a number of other commemoration events are being held across the county next week.

But residents in Southampton said the city should still have its own D-Day commemorations.

Cllr Christopher Hammond, inset, council leader at SCC, said the authority has been supporting the Royal British Legion who will be hosting an exhibition of photographs to honour the operation on the beaches of Normandy and funding have been sought to preserve the American Wall in Western Esplanade, in a bid to provide a lasting legacy of the city’s contribution to D-Day.

But when directly asked by the Daily Echo whether events would be organised, he would not confirm nor deny whether anything would take place.

Archie Parsons, inset, secretary of the Royal British Legion in Southampton, said the Legion does not have enough resources to organise an event by itself.

He said it is usually the city council that organises the events and asks the Legion to support them.

“We didn’t hear from them and it was not publicised. We know they are not doing anything at all. We have not asked them to do something. Normally they put the wheels in motion themselves and we usually join in and help,” Mr Parsons said.

He added: “The council have let the city down. They are the leaders of our city and they should be organising something on this occasion. It’s very sad. Obviously Southampton played a major part in the D-Day. We owed something to those people who have lost their lives.”

Hundreds of servicemen passed through Southampton en route to Normandy.

In June 1944 allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied France marking the beginning of the end for Adolf Hitler’s domination of Europe.

Southampton resident Steven Biles, 53, of Portswood, said it is an insult to the veterans and the residents of Southampton that no commemoration events will be held in the city.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith described it as a failure and urged SCC to organise a commemoration event even if modest.

He added: “I don’t think it is too late for them to put on a small commemoration. I think it is not unreasonable to expect Southampton City Council to do something.”

When asked what SCC will do to mark the anniversary of D-Day, Cllr Hammond said the focus of the country will be in Portsmouth. He said Southampton played a large part in the defence of the country and added: “We owe a debt of gratitude to all those, especially veterans, who protected our borders. That is why we’re working with our colleagues in Government and in Portsmouth. Our ongoing commitment to our military has been recognised recently by our receipt of the Armed Forces Day Covenant Silver Award and our funding for this year’s Armed Forces Day activities in the city on 30 June. Southampton’s commitment to our military today and those who have served over the years remains undimmed."