SYD SLATER of Avon Drive, Bury, was a Regimental Sergeant Major with the Royal Engineers. He and his wife, Mary, were married on February 12, 1945 -- eight months after he risked his life on the beaches of Normandy.

HERE cannot be many pleasant memories from the scenes of carnage of D Day. I landed on the first tide after the Gliders and commandos -- one officer, two sergeants and 50 men, including myself.

There were bodies everywhere: South, Lancs and East Yorks infantry, part of the 3rd Division, all aged 19 to 24.

We landed on Sword Beach. First instruction from the beach master was to dig-in under sand dunes. "Don't forget, check for mines!"

Our target was Caen docks. It took four weeks to take Caen. We were three weeks in a cornfield and then a school. During this time we were ferrying supplies from the beach to forward troops; I have mostly sad memories from this period, as we had many losses.

There was one happy memory, though. Every Christmas Day since 1946, at about 10am, I received a phone call from a sergeant colleague, Bill Allbury. He never missed for 58 years. Sadly he died two years ago, aged 83. A true comrade and a real cockney.

I visited Ranville Cemetery on the 50th anniversary where our lads were laid to rest.