Tom Jones gives a stunning live performance at the D-Day Memorial - video
6 June 2024, 11:13 | Updated: 7 June 2024, 09:13
Tom Jones's grandfather died in World War I.
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Tom Jones has given a stunning and beautiful performance at the D-Day memorial.
His appearance was part of the special ceremonies being held today (June 6) in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings
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Jones, whose grandfather died in World War One and is buried in France, took to the stage to perform 'I Won't Crumble With You If You Fall'.
Written by Bernice Johnson Reagon, the song opened Jones's critically acclaimed album Surrounded By Time.
"There’s a picture, which my sister still has, of my grandfather," Sir Tom said in 2021.
80 ans du Débarquement. Revivez l'interlude musical interprété par Tom JONES lors de la cérémonie franco-britannique de Ver-sur-Mer.
— France 3 Normandie (@f3normandie) June 6, 2024
Vivez cette journée du 6 juin ici : https://t.co/akFG40UA0p pic.twitter.com/3x3uwE8JS6
"His name was Albert Rees Jones, he was in the Royal Engineers, and he died in the First World War. So when I got my OBE, the first thing I thought of was my grandfather, and his medals."
As well as events in France and UK, further memorials are being held around the world to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of France.
The campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-western Europe was launched with Operation Neptune, which saw tens of thousands of soldiers landing on five beaches in Normandy, northern France on June 6, 1994.
D-Day 80th anniversary: Tom Jones performs live at ceremony • FRANCE 24 English
King Charles III laid a wreath at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, followed by French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Also in attendance at the memorial was the leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer.
Meanwhile, Prince William is marking this momentous D-Day at the Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer in Canada.
Sir Tom Jones performs with his finalist Anthonia Edwards on The Voice
