The Cornish poppy wreath marks the D-Day landings

A Cornwall hospital said it helped send a unique poppy wreath on a “special journey” to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Camborne Redruth Community Hospital said the wreath started its journey on Armed Forces Day in Falmouth last year and will finish in Normandy, France, on Thursday.

It will be 80 years on Thursday since more than 150,000 British, Canadian and American troops landed in a combined assault on Nazi-occupied France.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said the hospital was “one of a number of places” the crown traveled to across the Duchy.

The crown will be laid alongside seven other similar crowns from the UK and NATO and Commonwealth countries.

Iain Henderson, trustee of The Veterans Charity, said the commemoration takes place “any day for veterans”.

Mr Henderson said: “Cornwall is full of its own, often hidden, history of development leading up to DD Day. Some are obvious but perhaps overlooked… We must keep the memory alive before history is lost.

“This crown visiting groups and places is hopefully playing its part in that endeavour.”

The Crown was also part of the celebrations to mark the hospital becoming the second in the trust to achieve Veteran Aware status.

The hospital said the Veteran Aware accreditation meant the site could offer a range of care services to the local Armed Forces community.

Trust chief executive Debbie Richards and matron Sue Greenwood unveiled a plaque inside the hospital’s main entrance.

Ms Greenwood said they were “immensely proud” of their work, which recognized veterans, their families and staff who served.

She added: “This award demonstrates that we want to do more to support future generations of our service personnel and veterans.”