Hundreds of people paid respects to the Second World War serviceman who took part in D-Day at a commemoration service on Saturday (June 3).

The crowd gathered at the RAF Harwell Memorial Stone at the Harwell Campus where a short service was followed by an aeroplane flypast, two-minute silence, and wreath laying.

The annual event takes place on the Saturday nearest to the anniversary of D-Day - the first day of the Allied invasion of the beaches at Normandy on June 6, 1944.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire: New plans for 80 homes in village near Abingdon

The stone marks the point where aircraft of the no. 38 group Royal Air Force took off from Harwell the day before the invasion, on June 5, with troops of the 6th airborne division who were among the first British soldiers to land in Normandy.

This years’ service marked the 79th anniversary of the military operation.

Standard bearers from veteran’s organisations, local groups, and organisations were in attendance as a service was held that featured the act of remembrance, penitence, and exhortation.

Red poppy wreathes were laid at the base of the stone – with the first wreath placed by guest of honour Angus Horner, the Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire.

READ MORE: Wantage: New taco bar could open in Oxfordshire town

Wantage Mayor Angela Dunford, who also laid a wreath, said: “It’s an amazing event because there are so many people that attend. It was hard to tell how many were behind me, but other people said there were more people than there had been in previous years.

“It is much more like a remembrance service where you are remembering the contribution of the people from the local area to D-Day.

“It’s not really sad but its just really thoughtful and thought provoking.

READ MORE: George Orwell: Why is 1984 author buried in Oxfordshire?

“I think we should remember everybody’s contribution. It was a significant event during the course of the war. All the planning that went into it, and all the people who took part – we should remember them.”

A bugler played ‘the last post’ to start the two-minute silence, as the crowd remembered the servicemen who contributed to the operation, before it ended with the playing of the ‘reveille’.

Planes from RAF Brize Norton carried out a flypast.