NORMANDY veteran Bernard Morgan will never forget the sea of dead bodies as he landed on Gold Beach.

The 20-year-old had volunteered for the RAF on his 18th birthday and been part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force.

But on June 6, 1944, he was crossing the English Channel in a landing craft as part of a unit to control allied air movements over Normandy.

RAF sergeant Bernard, who is now 85, recalls: "Our landing area was code-named Gold Beach. When we finally received the order to disembark at 18.30 I shall never forget seeing the beach littered with many dead bodies, some who had been shot, or drowned and others carried in by the incoming tide.

"It was a very sad sight never to be forgotten by a 20-year-old airman, seeing his first dead body.

"The first night ashore was a nightmare. We slept, or tried to sleep, under our vehicles for some protection from continuous cross-fire from our own naval vessels and from the heavily fortified Atlantic Wall, which was blistering with guns.

"Throughout the night the sky was lit by tracers. Along with fellow airmen we were glad to have survived a most memorable day and felt lucky to be alive."

At the end of the war Bernard was sent to India and then Japan before leaving the forces in 1947 for a 42 year career on the railways.

Now Bernard, from Crewe, is preparing to return to Normandy to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

He will be taking a commemorative glass plate on behalf of the people of Crewe and Nantwich to hand over at a presentation at a school in Bayeux on Monday.

During his stay he will also be attending a service at the Commonwealth Cemetery in Bayeux; a Veterans' Commemoration Service, in Arromanches, and a church service, in Bazenville.

Bernard added: "I've been going to Normandy every other year and always stay with a French family in Caen.

"I love going back but it is sad to go to the cemetery and remember the men who were killed serving their country.

"It's disappointing that no royalty was originally invited to the 65th anniversary.

"The Queen went for the 60th anniversary but this year she wasn't invited.

" I'm very proud to be presenting the commemorative plate to the school.

"I was asked to give a talk at the school and struck up a friendship with a French lady who teaches English there.

"I'm going back to give another talk on my experiences during the war but she doesn't know about the plate."

Despite being retired, lifelong Crewe Alexandra fan Bernard has worked behind the turnstiles at Gresty Road for 62 years.

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