Former Hawthorn player Richard 'Dick' Pirrie, one of the first Australians killed during at the D-Day landings, will have his name added to the Normandy Memorial Wall at a ceremony in Plymouth, England next month.

The event, on June 5, falls on the eve of the 80th Anniversary of the Allied landings which began the liberation of Western Europe during the Second World War.

Sub-Lieutenant Richard Pirrie was nominated by Australian War Memorial Director, Matt Anderson, who was asked by the United Kingdom Defence Ministry to select an Australian to be remembered at the Normandy Memorial.  

Pirrie was the eldest of six children, he was a good athlete and a speedy wingman. He played his first senior game for the Hawks in the final round of the 1940 season, before playing a further two games in 1941.

His career was then put on hold as he enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, going on to serve alongside British and Canadian troops from the landing ship HMS Invicta on D-Day.

Pirrie was in command of a small spotter boat, Landing Craft Support (M) 47, which he took as close as possible to shore to identify and direct fire on German strongholds. His actions successfully neutralised German positions and saved many Allied lives.

Despite his success Richard Perrie was killed on his 24th birthday when his boat was struck simultaneously by a shell fired from a heavy gun on shore and a floating mine.

Richard Pirrie is one of 13 names added to the Normandy Memorial Wall representing 12 Allied countries who took part in the operation.