WORCESTERSHIRE war veterans are being offered the chance to visit the beaches and fields where the decisive campaign that ended the Second World War was fought.

Soldiers of the Worcestershire Regiment’s First Battalion landed in Normandy, northern France, in June 1944, and were soon heavily involved in the battle of Caen and the advance on the river Seine.

On August 16, they were the first troops to cross the river, despite coming under heavy fire. The battalion later fought through the liberation of Belgium and Holland, and the subsequent invasion of Germany.

This summer, exactly 68 years later, an historical research group is planning to retrace the steps of the men who contributed so much to the final victory.

Birmingham War Research Society organiser Alex Bulloch said: “Their capture of Mouen was described by the divisional commander as ‘one of the slickest attacks of the war’.”

The trip to Normandy will run from June 5-9. For more information call 0121 459 9008.