Guernsey Press

Normandy veterans return from 'emotional' ceremony

IT WAS an emotional return to the Normandy beaches for two Guernsey veterans, standing where their friends fought and died for their country 70 years ago.

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John Burford, 89, of the 9 Para Devonshire 231 Brigade 50 Division and Bill Blair, 90, a private in the parachute regiment, arrived back in the island on Friday after joining others who fought on D-Day in France in a remembrance ceremony, each being presented with a medal by the President of Normandy.

Mr Burford was just 19 when he landed on Gold Beach in France on D-Day.

He had never been back since.

Mr Blair said he had enjoyed the trip and could remember walking past the thousands of dead troops and animals as Allied forces pushed the Germans back to the Seine.

'I was very proud to receive the medal,' he said.

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