MRS JOYCE BERRY of Lomond Drive, Woolfield, Bury, was aged nine at the time of the D-Day landings and her father was among those fighting

My vivid memory of that day was when I was nine years old. At the time, my mum and I were living at my grandma's house in Chadderton. My mum worked on ammunitions so I was looked after by my grandparents.

On D-Day I was playing at skipping with my friends and my mum came home from work, took hold of my hand, and said we were going to St Mark's Church. I asked 'why?' and she said that a lot of servicemen and women, including my own dad, were going on a very special mission which was very dangerous.

When we got to the church there were a lot of people there and we all prayed that everyone would be safe. That particular memory has always been with me.