Bury man commemorates D-Day anniversary with front garden display

Howard Sacks, 69, created the display on Irwell Street in Bury in honour of the milestone anniversary of the Normandy landings, which took place on June 6,1944.

The operation was the biggest seaborne invasion in history and marked the beginning of the liberation of France.

The display on Irwell Street, Bury (Image: Newsquest)

Howard, who works for a household products manufacturer in Manchester, also put together the display in honour of his father, Albert, who served in the RAF as a teenager at the end of the war.

Albert joined the RAF during conscription aged 18 and worked as a physical training instructor before becoming a tailor, something he had gained experience having come from a family of garment makers.

Howard Sacks and his father, Albert (Image: Newsquest)

Howard said his father, who is now aged 96, was “over the moon” to see the display, which he created with his own collection of military vehicles and memorabilia collected over the years.

He said: “I thought because it’s the 80th anniversary, it's got to be done.

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Howard has been collecting military memorabilia for more than 20 years (Image: Newsquest)

“It's just something nice and something different. It's authentic because it's old and you don’t normally see things like this because they're normally hidden away in cupboards and garages and things like that."

Howard said that older residents especially have been moved by the display, but he also hopes it might help younger generations to engage with the nation’s history.

It is hoped this display will keep the memory of D-Day alive for generations to come (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “It's for my dad and anyone else who wants to come and have a look.

“It's important that youngsters don’t forget what’s gone on, but they do. The amount of kids who have passed by here and they don’t look.

“There’s no money in it, but what I’ve got I like people to see.”

Howard Sacks and his military motorcycles (Image: Newsquest)

Howard said he started collecting military motorbikes around 20 years ago, and spends his free time restoring them.

He also hopes to set up a museum where he can put them on display.

He has a collection of 29 Second World War era military bikes.

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Howard said many residents had been moved by the display (Image: Newsquest)

“People have been over the moon,” he added.

“The nostalgia just blew them away, especially a lot of the older people.

"There was an old couple here before and the woman was crying.”

Howard said he hopes the display will help to keep the memory of D-Day alive in the minds of residents.

He said: “ You’ve got thousands of men who just walked off the boat and into the water and never came back, it's heartbreaking."