VETERANS of the Second World War have met up with two friends who are planning to retrace their steps across the former battlefields of France.

Four former Durham School pupils are leaving for the beaches of Normandy on Saturday, to follow in the footsteps of Durham Light Infantry soldiers who helped defeat the German army.

Sergeant Charles Eagles and Private Dickie Atkinson, who served with the 9th battalion, met Peter Michelson and John Stacey at The Rifles offices in Durham this week.

They studied maps to identify key locations to visit and heard first hand their stories which they say will "vivify" their journey.

They were just babies when the Second World War ended and left Durham School over half a century ago, but their own camaraderie remains, along with an appreciation of the sacrifice made by the previous generation.

Along with David Aylward and Chris Thorp, they plan to spend four days at key sites and will be placing 16 wooden crosses in memory of the men who lost their lives.

Lieutenant Colonel Michelson MBE, enlisted in the DLI himself before joining the Australian Army in March 1967, and served in Vietnam.

The 71-year-old, who now lives in Canberra and has been awarded the Order of Australia, said: “I came back for the unveiling of the statue in the Market Place a couple of years ago and met some chums from Durham School who had not seen for over 50 years.

“We decided we would follow in the footsteps of the Durhams from D-Day towards the end of World War Two.

“We are going to visit the fields and remember those who gave their lives.

“I am a veteran myself but when I meet comrades like these I am humbled. It is an honour to meet such great men.”

John Stacey, who now lives in Hampshire, was in the DLI cadet force and worked as a graphic designer after leaving Durham School.

He said: “It has been amazing to meet these guys. I have reading a book about the DLI and have been sitting next to the guy that wrote it. I can’t believe it.

“Charles has been telling me these stories himself, and describing exactly what happened to them.”

Sgt Eagles and Private Atkinson are thought to be just two of four surviving members of the DLI who saw active service during the Second World War.

Sgt Eagles, 92, of Sunderland, was captured by the Germans but as they were retreating they were unable to hold him and his men and he eventually helped arrange the surrender of his captors.

He said: “We landed on the beaches at 9.30am. We made our way through the boscage. That was a bit hairy. On every bend there was someone with a machine gun and that made it slow going. When someone fires you jump, and if you jumped the wrong way you had had it.”

Private Atkinson, 96, Whitley Bay, fought at Dunkirk, Palestine, Iraq, Italy, on D-Day and through France and Germany.

He helped liberate the concentration camp at Bergen Belsen and now still visits schools to tell children about his wartime experiences.

He said: “We have been telling these men the old soldier stories and what we got up to. It is good to hear they are retracing out steps. It is important that what happened is remembered. I am rather proud that I helped make history.”