HOW will chippies and pubs on the Isle of Wight honour those involved in the D-Day landings on National Fish and Chip Day — switched to June 6 to mark its 80th anniversary?

Back for its ninth year, National Fish and Chip Day will recognise the huge importance of fish and chips during both world wars — and on D-Day, in particular.

Stotesburys fish and chip shop in Nodehill, Newport — the oldest chippy on the Island — will be marking the occasion with the bunting up and offering a £7.50 fish and chip special (as long as stocks last).

Isle of Wight County Press: Danny Ditton, the owner of Stotesburys fish and chip shop in Newport, is supporting D-Day 80 on National Fish and Chip Day.Danny Ditton, the owner of Stotesburys fish and chip shop in Newport, is supporting D-Day 80 on National Fish and Chip Day. (Image: County Press) 

Fish and chips, considered to be the national British dish, were described by Winston Churchill as ‘good companions’ — ensuring they were not rationed to help keep up the nation's morale during the last war.


How is your local chippy and pub marking D-Day 80?

Let us know what your establishment will be doing to mark D-Day on National Fish and Chip Day, by emailing to: editor@iwcp.co.uk


Even more incredible is that during the D-day landings, soldiers who found themselves behind enemy lines at night, and who needed a way of telling whether someone nearby was a friend of foe, they devised a two-word code — one would call ‘fish’ and the other replied ‘chips’.

The British government safeguarded the supply of fish and potatoes during both world wars to ensure servicemen got fish and chips.

Gary Lewis, president of the National Edible Oil Distributors Association (NEODA), founders of National Fish and Chip Day, said: “Because of the intrinsic links it has always had with the world wars and D-Day, we wanted to show our support.”