D-Day veterans brim with pride and emotion as they head back to the scene of their finest hour

EIGHTY years after they first sailed to Normandy to liberate France a tiny band of brothers returned yesterday.

Former RAF Sergeant Bernard Morgan and Jeep driver Jack Mortimer, both 100, were among 23 D-Day veterans who sailed from Portsmouth yesterday.

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As the 8am ferry sailed out into the Solent sailors lined the decks of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to cheer on the last of the D-Day heroes.

Crowds flocked to the sea front and traffic came to halt as the Type 23 frigate St Albans and HMS Cattistock escorted the veterans travelling to France to mark the 80th anniversary of the battle for Nomandy when 22,442 Brits died.

Overhead a giant RAF A400 aircraft flew three times around the ship.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Jack, from Leeds, drove a jeep on to Sword Beach as a 20-year-old serving with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps

He fought back tears as he recalled shells and mortars flying over him as he drove towards Caen.

He says: “It was dangerous, there were snipers all around. It was noisy, smoky, smelly and I saw lots of casualties. I saw bodies being brought off that beach.

“But I’m proud of being a D-Day veteran. I’m proud of my medals.

“How does it feel to be going back 80 years later?

“I’ve been back a few times to Normandy and it is very, very emotional.

“When I go past those gravestones, I talk to them in silence. Sometimes I read their names and remember them. The memories are our keepsake.”

RAF code breaker Bernard Morgan, from Crewe, Cheshire, manned a Bren gun on a landing craft on D-Day.

He finally reached the shore at 6.30pm on D-Day – the worst of the fighting was over but dead bodies lay everywhere.

He says: “Gold Beach was one of the better landing points on D-Day, but I can still vividly remember seeing dead bodies scattered all over the beach as I came ashore and that is a sight that will stay with me forever.”

Bernard will remember three pals he lost in the battle for Normandy – wireless operator John Baines, killed by friendly fire, plus Robert Hall and Paul Langstaff who died in an air attack on their truck.