D-Day Veteran Les Budding, 97, Recounts His Experiences as One of Britain's Last Surviving D-Day Veterans

He was 18 years old when he served on board Landing Craft Flak 34, providing covering fire for the first wave of troops who stormed Sword Beach on 6 June 1944.

He says his survival was a result of "the luck of the draw." Budding joined the Royal Marines at 17 and following intense training in Scotland, he found himself on a 186ft landing craft headed for the Normandy coast with 85 others.

Their task was to defend the main invasion force from attack from the Luftwaffe as well as surface vessels.

He recalls "the false start" when the invasion was put back a day due to bad weather and the importance of the Trout Line, a defensive line ensuring supplies reached the first waves.

Budding remained modest, insisting he was "just one of many" and believes it is "most important" the nation continues to remember the sacrifices of those who helped free the world from Nazi tyranny.