Archive

A cannabis dealer who was jailed today was told by the judge that he would have walked free if he had the courage to plead guilty. Judge Michael Taylor told Anthony Douglas,26, that instead he had told a "cock and bull story" to a jury who had disbelieved

A POLICE chief and expert on football hooligans is retiring after 30 years service. Ron Hogg hangs up his uniform next week as deputy chief constable with Cleveland Police, but has served with all three regional police forces. He first signed up with

NORTHUMBRIA Police is appealing for help in tracing a missing mother and her five young daughters. Natalie Bracht, 34, left her home in Sunderland on Saturday, May 17 with her children, aged between five and 13, and is believed to have travelled in a

The A1(M) nothbound is closed between the Newton Aycliffe and Bradbury interchanges after a lorry caught fire. The fire brigade were called to the incident at just before 8pm this evening and took about half an hour to bring the blaze under control.

NETWORK Rail (NR) has warned youngsters in the region not to make railway tracks their final destination this half term. The North-East continues to be a trouble spot for trespassing and vandalism on railways, incidents of which traditionally increase

A SOLDIER who slashed another squaddie was spared jail to fight in Afghanistan. Judge Michael Taylor said that he would have jailed a civilian for the same crime, adding that some of the public might criticise his treatment of Lance Corporal Dean Willock

AN elderly female resident was taken to hospital with severe burns following a fire at a sheltered accommodation block this afternoon. Two other women were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation following the blaze at Priory Court, in the

Norton U15's completed the 'Double' and bagged a phenomenal 5th League Cup in a row after a nail biting penalty shoot out against their biggest rivals Marton FC. The game wasn't a classic with Marton mainly trying to catch out Norton with long balls

The biggest crowd of the season with families, friends and sponsors coming to watch this climax tie for Norton U10A's. Norton were in control throughout the first half of the league cup final with efforts on their goal minimal and only the St Mary's

THREE members of a paedophile gang who lured North-East boys across Europe with the promise of holidays only to subject them to horrific abuse have been jailed. A father and son helped lure the children into the hands of abusers, who carried out and

Although his bravery saved her father's life, Angela Williams knew little of Charles Eagles until The Northern Echo published his D-Day diaries. Sixty years on, she talks to Chris Lloyd about meeting the hero for the first time IT is an absolute privilege

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day Final Part: Blow Up JULY 22, 1944, was just an ordinary, routine

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day Part 10: Stepping on a show mine There were about five million mines

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day Part 8: Drink A CARRIER pulled up and a Captain Phillips dropped in

NORTH Yorkshire racer Darren Manning will start his fourth Indianapolis 500 from the 14th position on the starting grid on Sunday. In his latest column for The Northern Echo, the A.J. Foyt Enterprises driver previews the big race. "The hot weather

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day Part 9: Snipers IN French, the word bocage means mixed woodland

FORMER Darlington midfielder Micky Cummins has joined League Two rivals Rotherham United. The 29-year-old was only released by Quakers yesterday and the Millers have moved quickly to secure his signature. He has signed a two-year contract for Mark

There was pride in the tilt of their beret-crowned heads as the D-day veterans stepped out behind more than 20 regimental standards. Those too frail to walk rode in the backs of three Army jeeps at the head of a convoy

A beautiful North-East blonde became the first entertainer to land on Normandy beaches after D-Day. Christine Norden, who went on to become a British film and stage star, was only 19 when she put her life at risk for her country. Her

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day. Part 7: How four Durhams without rifles captured 100 armed Germans THE tables had been turned. Four of us - members

PRIME Minister Winston Churchill began to look upon an invasion of Europe as a serious option in the summer of 1941 - while most people were expecting the Germans to invade Britain. In August 1942, 10,000 troops including 6,000 Canadians took part

POLICE are trying to trace two drivers who tried to entice young boys into their cars. On Thursday, a man tried to convince a six-year-old boy to get in his dark blue, four-door car sometime after 6pm on Thursday night on The Green in Witton Park. The

The Second World War was truly a world war and this weekend's celebrations of the landings in a small corner of Europe are a little galling for those veterans who, unacknowledged, were fighting in other, forgotten, corners of the globe. "We are a little

My father was one of those people who never spoke about these things," says Catherine Gill. But in her home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham there is a drawer full of letters that speak volumes about his part in D-Day. The letters are written by Capt

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day. Part 5: Surrender WE were in a hole, a sticky situation, a tight spot. The 9th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry

No attempt to tell the story of D-Day and the battle for Normandy is complete without mention of the denouement: the Battle of Falaise. As we told on previous days, the Allies had landed on the beaches on D-Day at the beginning of June. They had pushed

THE family of a teenage girl killed by a police car spoke today of their absolute devastation at their loss. Hayley Adamson, 16, died in hospital after she was hit crossing Denton Road in the Scotswood area of Newcastle on Monday night. Her family paid

A CROOKED car repair specialist who swindled more than £50,000 out of insurance companies with bogus claims has walked free from court. David Saunders, who worked for a Darlington windscreen company, was told by a judge that his excellent work in a deprived

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day Part 5: Death of the colonel WHEN I dropped Lieutenant

Surveying the awesome scene of epic military might on D-Day, Eric Dove's thoughts turned to a moment two years earlier and an altogether more humdrum British "war weapon". "It was 1942 and we were told a German invasion was imminent and we

WHILE the men fought for freedom with guns and bullets the women back home were using hammer, nail and flame. In the months and years leading to D-Day it was overwhelmingly women who built the planes, guns and ammunition for war. And

POLICE are trying to track down the driver of a dark blue, four-door car, who allegedly tried to entice a six-year-old boy inside. The incident happened sometime after 6pm last night on The Green in Witton Park. The youngster said the man who was wearing

THERE'S as much cross-dressing in the world of motoring these days as you'll find on the stage during panto season. Everyone's at it - creating something that is essentially one thing, but has pretensions to be something else. The problem is

A MAYOR joined forces with drug misuse workers to help clear up part of his town. Northallerton mayor Tony Hall and his group spent two hours on the town's Ashlands estate, looking for drugs paraphernalia. And although none was actually found on this

I'D STARTED to wonder if the traditional Volvo brick' had disappeared. Once upon a time, the boxy Volvo estate was a must-have for antique dealers and large families. These days those ultra-practical load-luggers have fallen out of favour, replaced

I NEVER really knew about stuff' until, that is, I had kids. Prior to the two boys launching themselves into my life, I led a pretty ordered existence. There was a place for everything and everything had its place. But the day the kids entered

THIS isn't like any other Volvo you've ever come across. It looks good, svelte almost, with a real hint of menace about the front end, and it goes almost as well as it looks. I say almost because, despite those wide tyres and big alloys, the C30

CAMPAIGNERS hope an 18th century bridge will become a beauty spot after a much-needed clean-up of the area, which has been blighted by fly-tippers. The grade II-listed bridge over the River Wiske, near Great Smeaton, is close to a la-by on the A167 between

PLANNING officials are to visit the sites of two controversial planned housing developments, which could see 150 homes built on an historic site in a town. Members of Hambleton District Council's development management committee will visit the site of

ABOUT 100 fire service employees were evacuated from their headquarters after a suspicious package was found this morning. Army bomb disposal experts were called to the offices of North Yorkshire Fire Brigade, in Thurston Road, Northallerton, at about

PLANNING officials are to visit the sites of two controversial planned housing developments, which could see 150 homes built on an historic site in a town. Members of Hambleton District Council's development management committee will visit the site of

CAMPAIGNERS hope an 18th century bridge will become a beauty spot after a much-needed clean-up of the area, which has been blighted by fly-tippers. The grade II-listed bridge over the River Wiske, near Great Smeaton, is close to a la-by on the A167 between

Durham v Yorkshire (County Championship) : Day Two STEVE Harmison took two wickets as Durham routed Yorkshire's top order yesterday, but probably slipped below five-wicket hero Graham Onions in the England pecking order. While Matthew Hoggard, who

Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire (County Championship) : Day Three MORNE MORKEL marked his debut by taking his first wicket for Yorkshire but, after a bright start, the home side toiled in the field for little reward on day three. Nottinghamshire were

Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire (County Championship) : Day Two A SUPERB century on a difficult pitch from Jacques Rudolph helped Yorkshire to a competitive total in their first innings against Nottinghamshire at Headingley yesterday. Michael Vaughan's

CLEVELAND Police is likely to fly solo after Durham and Northumbria's decision to pull out of the North-East air support operation from next year. And the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, Councillor Dave McLuckie, criticised the two neighbouring

POLICE are appealing for information after a motorist attempted to convince a boy to get into his car. A 13-year-old boy has told police that at around 8.45pm on Wednesday as male driver approached him as he walked on West Road, between the football

A KEEN fisherman was celebrating today after landing the catch of his life - a £2.7m Lotto jackpot win. Mark Weir, 45, scooped the life-changing prize in Wednesday's Lotto draw, but only found out the following morning when he checked his numbers on

TAXI drivers in Bishop Auckland could have seen an attack that left a 22-year-old man unconscious and in need of plastic surgery. A two-inch gash in his left cheek required internal and external stitches after a vicious assault at the Market Place taxi

NEWCASTLE UNITED striker Michael Owen looks set to miss England's friendlies with the USA and Trinidad & Tobago. Owen has not reported for duty with Fabio Capello's squad due to a virus and is not expected to figure in either of the matches on May 28

THE number of hospital admissions linked to alcohol has doubled in ten years, suggesting the country's binge-drinking culture is taking its toll. Official data reveals that the number of admissions to NHS hospitals in England rose by seven per

THE day that Tow Law played Wembley, as likely as the ragman's horse in the Derby or prize bingo at the Palladium, was recalled, rapturously, at a clubhouse union last Friday. It was just a lean-to on Windy Ridge, for heaven's sake, just a worked-out

DURHAM CITY'S mayor visited St Joseph's Primary School, in Gilesgate, to help the pupils mark National Reading Week. Durham University academic and Liberal Democrat councillor Grenville Holland, who recently assumed the mayoralty for the year,

A GRANDFATHER who has enriched the lives of young people in a community during 40 years of voluntary youth work was rewarded for his efforts yesterday. Ronnie Harrison was presented with the Chairman's Medal by Durham County Council chairwoman

CHILDREN from a Guisborough nursery put their best foot forward to raise funds for a children's charity. The under-fives set off on their half-mile walk from the Rosedene Nursery in aid of the Barnardo's Big Toddle 2008. Nursery manager Angela

A PRINCIPAL last night vowed to try to find work for staff at risk of losing their jobs when a college, split over four campuses, moves to a single site in September. Public sector union Unison, says up to 20 people could lose their jobs through

YOUNGSTERS are to trek along the Cleveland Way on a fact-finding mission. Pupils from nine primary schools in the region are to walk a short stretch of the trail over the coming weeks, in a project to increase their awareness of the 109-mile

DIY meals are being served up at a primary school. Staff are pleased with the fruit and vegetables children are eating at Park End Primary School, Middlesbrough C because they are growing their own. According to Middlesbrough Council, the

JAPANESE artist Mariko Mori may have the edge in terms of prestige, but the cast of thousands involvement of Double Agent grabs the attention from the moment you enter the room. Why? Well for a start artist Dora Garcia has employed a series of

The Passions Of Vaughan Williams (BBC4, 8pm); House Guest (ITV1, 3pm) AT the start there's much talk of him being "the giant of 20th Century English music" and "perhaps the greatest composer of symphonies this country has ever produced". His music

Flying to Venice for 1p seems a bargain, but do you know about the hidden costs of cheap airline tickets? SO how much is your holiday flight costing you? The answer, probably, is that you haven't a clue. And you're not the only one. But you can

An invitation to visit the Chelsea Flower Show is always special, especially on Press day when celebs as well as gardens vie for the attention of the media USUALLY when you have a hobby you get to meet a handful of like-minded people in often

One of the most insistent voices urging action over the obesity epidemic belongs to a County Durham medic. Health Editor Barry Nelson meets Dr Colin Waine, who warns that doing nothing is not an option. AT first glance, retired Bishop Auckland GP Dr

Elle Macpherson has been one of the world's most famous supermodels for 25 years. Deborah Johnson finds out how she also manages to juggle motherhood, charity work and running a global business empire. ELLE Macpherson is posing for pictures,

WE should all be very worried indeed about the latest figures linking health problems in this country to alcohol consumption. Hospital admissions linked to alcohol have more than doubled since 1995 and GP prescriptions for treating alcohol dependency

THREE letters in Hear All Sides (May 19), fiercely critical of Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, were stark reminders of similar ones appearing here just 11 years ago, only then their subject was Conservative Prime Minister John Major. It's a political

FURTHER to my letter in support of Gordon Brown (HAS, May 21) I would add a word about "The Vicar of Doom", columnist Peter Mullen, whose recent attack on Mr Brown (Echo, May 13) surpassed all his previous efforts. The Anglican faith preaches

A GOVERNMENT-BACKED review has recommended that pupils in state schools should be encouraged to join cadet forces. While some may object to this, what if this idea was modified? In the later years of a pupil's time at school, representatives of

WITH Carers Week coming up next month I believe now would be an opportune time to remind all members of the new Durham County Council/Unitary Authority of the very valuable contribution made by parent carers and family carers to the finances of

THE images of some politicians does little to help promote politics to a public which needs reassurance and responsibility from its elected members. Recent reports and images in a Sunday newspaper of MEPs boasting how much they can claim does

IT has always been a long-running dispute as to how the land known as Coatham Common and Majuba Road car park, Redcar, was to be developed. This dispute can now, hopefully, be resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned by approving proposals

WE would like to invite your readers to join The Relay for Life for Cancer Research UK, to be held for the first time on the weekend of August 16 and 17 at Gateshead International Stadium. All funds raised will be spent locally to continue Cancer

I TOO abhor the way the Burmese generals are behaving and the way governments are letting them do so. But, I should like to ask Hugh Pender (HAS, May 17) if he could provide us with a list of those governments that the US has brought down and indicate

I AM astounded at the number of "not in my name" war protestors opposed to the fact that Britain and America removed the tyrant Saddam Hussein, who now seem to be calling for military intervention in Burma. I support the removal of the Burmese

THE residents of Nottingham have woken up to an odd sight in recent weeks - a middleaged man pounding the highways of the shire. It's not the sheriff chasing Kevin Costner, or, for older readers, Richard Greene. It's a more modern - and I'm glad

COMPANIES are being pushed to the absolute edge'' by rocketing oil prices, a business leader warned yesterday. British Chambers of Commerce policy head Chris Hannant called for urgent action after crude oil reached a record of $135.09 a barrel

NORTHERN Rock's nationalisation has added more than £92bn to public debt and breached the Treasury's sustainable investment rule, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It suggested the move to take the Newcastle- based bank into

ABOUT 2,500 jobs, including several in the North-East, have been saved at discount fashion group Ethel Austin after the group was bought out of administration by the former boss of clothing chain MK One. Elaine McPherson, the previous chief executive

UP to 30 jobs will be created when a call centre company moves to Ryedale. First Locate, which services the utilities sector, has offices in Leeds and Scarborough and is leasing 3,000sq ft of office space in Yorkersgate. The firm has already

AN entrepreneur who began his business career renting hot water bottles to fellow pupils at a County Durham school told conference delegates the secrets of his success. Angus Thirlwell, the cofounder of luxury chocolate firm Hotel Chocolat, addressed

NORTH-EAST manufacturing has a bright future, but still faces significant challenges, according to employers organisation EEF. The director of its Northern arm, Alan Hall, said manufacturing across the UK was in "pretty good shape". Mr Hall was

FIVE hundred unadvertised jobs have been found by a team brought in to help workers at a cooker factory that will close. The Electrolux factory, in Spennymoor, County Durham, will close in the New Year so production can be moved to Poland. Nearly

HUGHIE MORRISON hardly ever has any runners at Newcastle, so the fact he sends both African Pursuits and Mrs Summersby to the Tyneside track is a tip in itself, writes COLIN WOODS (JANUS). The canny Lambourn-based trainer picks and chooses his

THE only Chelsea on our television on Wednesday night involved Alan Titchmarsh, and there was no singing of Blue is the Colour because green proliferated and the gaffer wore a silly, striped blazer. I used to prefer him when he was up front

Surrey v Yorkshire (County Championship) : Day Two JACQUES Rudolph was the mainstay of a solid Yorkshire batting response to Surrey's mammoth first innings total in the County Championship clash at the Oval yesterday. The South African star hit

DURHAM have a slight doubt about Graham Onions ahead of their final two group games in the Friends Provident Trophy, at home to Scotland on Sunday and Derbyshire on Monday. The England Lions seamer has a sore heel and Durham could rest him as

PAUL McSHANE has revealed the extent of the frustration felt during his first year on Wearside and feels he has been treated unfairly by manager Roy Keane. McShane's poor display in Sunderland's defeat at Newcastle United on April 20 was the

PAUL McGinley's slide outside the world's top 150 has not stopped him believing there is a lot more good golf left in me'' - and at Wentworth yesterday he made a lot of other people believe it too. A seven-under-par 65 in the opening round of

PAULA Radcliffe is refusing to give up on her Olympic dream, despite being told it is impossible'' for her to make Beijing in top form. Radcliffe was thought to be suffering from a left hip injury but revealed yesterday she had suffered a low-grade

CELTIC won the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title on a dramatic final evening of the campaign. Gordon Strachan's side clinched a hat-trick of championships thanks to a 1- 0 victory against Dundee United at Tannadice, while rivals and long-time

IT was last June when Chris Mort, a top lawyer, arrived at Newcastle United as deputy chairman. Almost a year later, he will depart without surprise, just question marks about his timing. In the the coming weeks Mort, the chairman since Freddy

MARK SCHWARZER has turned down a move to two Champions League contenders and a twoyear contract with Middlesbrough in favour of a surprise move to Fulham. But Boro manager Gareth Southgate is determined not to rush into buying a ready-made replacement

APPLICANTS are being sought for an unusual job vacancy - filling the 20-inch shoes of a costumed cartoon character. Durham County Council is looking for someone to take over the role of Sam, the authority's 7ft sustainable travel mascot. The council

YOUNG archaeologists are being invited to follow in the footsteps of Indiana Jones to help discover the secrets of an ancient jewel. The Middleham jewel, described as one of the finest pieces of Gothic jewellery found, is on display at the

AMBULANCE officials have backed controversial plans to close a control room. The North-East Ambulance Service will press ahead with plans to close the ambulance control room in Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough, and centralise services on Tyneside

NORTH-EAST scientists have been awarded a prize for their work mapping the universe. A team that included scientists from Durham University received the first Group Achievement Award from the Royal Astronomical Society. The team of 33 spent ten

COMMUNITIES in the region are being urged to help police put drug dealers behind bars. Crimestoppers is urging residents to "rat on a rat" and pass on information about drug-related crime. Dave Hunter, Crimestoppers' regional manager, said: "The

A PIECE of North-East railway memorabilia is creating a stir on an internet auction site. The sign that once greeted passengers at Spennymoor train station, in County Durham, is expected to sell for thousands of pounds. It was saved from the station

SMOKER Andrew White was left fuming after a court ordered him to pay £365 for dropping a cigarette end in a car park. White was spotted discarding the butt in the grounds of Easington District Council in Seaside Lane by one of the authority's

LIFE'S a hoot at an owl sanctuary in the region after the arrival of a long-awaited addition. Ural owls Ursula and Unwin have been trying for three years to start a family. Staff at the Kirkleatham Owl Centre, near Redcar, east Cleveland, decided

A DAMNING new report has criticised the quality of the sea water off three beaches in the region. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has rated 779 beaches in the UK in its 2008 Good Beach Guide. Its study looks at water quality standards and

Without Charlie Maddison, it is possible that Stan Hollis would not have made it back to tell his extraordinary story. June 6, 1944, was just another morning to Charlie. He now lives in Willington, near Crook, County Durham, but back then was

A GUNMAN who terrified patients at a North-East hospital was overcome by staff until the arrival of firearms officers. Police were called to the accident and emergency department at Sunderland Royal Hospital at 5.30pm on Wednesday, after reports

VINTAGE steam engines and trucks worth millions of pounds will be arriving today to take part in the biggest event of its kind in the North-East.About 600 exhibits will be on display and some will be working at the three-day Barnard Castle Steam Fair,

A HIGH-PROFILE former businessman is likely to become one of the main decision-makers on the region's biggest council.The new cabinet of Durham County Council will be confirmed at its annual meeting at County Hall this morning -the first meeting of the

A FAMILY duo is attempting to set a world record by becoming the first two-man team in history to row across the North Atlantic.Father and son-in-law Kevan Jefferson and Martin Gilbey are setting sail from Canada to England despite having no previous

THE organisers of a charity football match featuring television soap stars have been warned they will be breaking the laws of the game because it is in the close season.Northern League champions Durham City FC's Archibald Stadium will host the Emmerdale

MORE parents are taking action after failing to get their children into the school of their choice.North-East and North Yorkshire parents lodged more than 3,500 appeals against offers of admission to primary and secondary

A WOMAN has spoken for the first time of her battle to find out the truth about her husband's death in Africa.David Hunt died in the crossfire of a gun battle between rebels and Nigerian servicemen after he was kidnapped in November 2006.His widow, Janice

Frank Lampard tried desperately to alleviate John Terry's penalty pain after the Chelsea captain's spot-kick blunder cost the Blues their first Champions League triumph. Terry slipped as he took the penalty that would have given them the coveted European

THE leader of a council has called on the Post Office to open the books of branches threatened with closure.Darlington Borough Council could step in to keep the shops open, the authority announced yesterday.Councillor John Williams has written to the

Cristiano Ronaldo declared his affection for Manchester United after capping a magnificent season by helping the club win the Champions League. However, the Portugal winger continues to send out mixed messages about his future. Ronaldo, who scored his

AFTER releasing six more players yesterday, Dave Penney insists he will be opting for quality rather than quantity when strengthening his Darlington squad this summer. Clark Keltie, Julian Joachim, Micky Cummins, Neil Wainwright, Scott Wiseman and Sean

England are banking on playing at one of their more successful grounds to spark a return to form for their mis-firing batsmen in the second Test against New Zealand. Unbeaten at Old Trafford in five Tests since losing on the final day to Pakistan in 2001

PARENTS paying an extra £100,000 for homes near one of the region's best state schools could see their children denied a place under proposed changes to admissions criteria.Families are stretching their finances to buy homes on the doorstep of a Durham

A REVIEW of hospital services in part of their region is likely to lead to the creation of a two-tier system, it emerged last night.For more than a year, doctors, nurses and other health staff have been reviewing hospital services run by County Durham

THE family of a council labourer killed in an accident at work have criticised the inquest process - and vowed to continue their search for the truth.Hartlepool Borough Council worker Tony Gate remained in a coma for nearly three years after being struck

D-DAY was a doddle for the Durhams compared with what was to come in the days after. Three battalions of the Durham Light Infantry swept ashore at Gold Beach, landing at about 11.30am and meeting very little opposition as they pushed quickly towards

Four days before D-Day, Ken Lodge got a free transfer from the Durham Light Infantry to the Green Howards and joined them in time for some last minute training scrambling down nets into landing craft. He and about six other Durhams were

The only Victoria Cross awarded for bravery on D-Day went to a Middlesbrough man. Chris Lloyd retraces his steps from beach to rhubarb patch and tells the story of his regiment, the Green Howards, on "the longest day". The tide's out now. The

Just after midnight on June 6, 1944, six platoons of British troops, sitting silently in their gliders, swooped low over the Normandy countryside and braced themselves for the roughest landing of their lives. They were the first Allied soldiers

At about half-past midnight on D-Day, Lance Corporal George Price stepped out of the belly of a Stirling bomber and into the moonlight of the Normandy skies. He was first out, and on his right, the RAF was giving the German defences around

Seven years ago, Charles Eagles' daughter, Sandra, developed cancer. She was given only two months to live. She wanted him to write down his war experiences so her son, then seven, would understand what his grandfather had done during

Between May 31st and June 6th 2004, to mark the 60th anniversary of D-Day, The Northern Echo published a series of articles that followed the invasion through the eyes of local soldiers from the first drop of Paratroopers through the aerial and

Two battalions of Green Howards landed on Gold Beach on D-Day. When the war started, both were recruited largely from Teesside and North Yorkshire, although as they'd suffered losses from Dunkirk through the Middle East to Sicily, the regional

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day Part 3: Mines and booby traps I'll never forget my first mine. It was the day after D-Day, somewhere

THE idea of the parachute drops shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944, was to secure the western and eastern flanks before the soldiers landed on the beaches in between at dawn. The US troops dropped to the west. Bad weather and poorly trained

Continuing the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, published in The Northern Echo, who landed at Normandy on D-Day Part 2: Landing on D-Day IT would have been about 9am or 9.30am, but time didn't matter any more. It

Preparing for one of the most historic days of the Second World War held little fear for Stan Robinson - he felt lucky. Leading Seaman Robinson had cheated death when his minesweeper was sunk because he was in hospital recovering from sea-sickness

Dorothy Appleby remembers rushing to her husband's bedside. "The sister said that they hoped he was going to come round and be sane because he had such a bad head injury," she says. "She didn't say that he had lost half of his brain. "I