Many Hampshire members of the Normandy Veterans Association went to France last weekend to mark the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings...

SURROUNDED by fields the Gothic chateau of Fountain Etoupefour stands out above the trees.

But for Hampshire veterans of the Normandy Veterans' Association its significance does not lie in its architecture, but the vicious battles that took place around it in nearby Maltot.

On the final day of their five-day pilgrimage the group had hoped to visit the chateau after its owner extended an invitation to all of them to have a look around.

However, they could only look on at the building from afar as they were unable to take their coach down the narrow track leading to the entrance gate.

The distance was too far for most of the men aged in their late 70s, 80s and 90s to walk.

"It's a great shame," said Tom Cromie, the association's chairman.

Earlier in the day association member Philip Hedley-Prole, laid a posy of poppies at the memorial on Hill 112 nearby.

It was here, just south west of Caen, throughout June and July 1944, that there were thousands of casualties as the British breakout came to a halt under heavy German bombardment.

Gordon Henry, 79, of Thornhill Park, Southampton, was one of those who fought in the battle with the Seventh Battalion of the Royal Hampshires.

"It was chaos. Our commanding officer was wounded three times and died on his way to hospital.

"I always remember my platoon commander Lieutenant Sandy. I told him I was hungry and asked whether I could get my haversack from the hedge.

"When I returned, he was dead."

Gordon described how when he withdrew from Maltot on July 10 he saw five wounded men who he went back to help and administer first aid - an act of courage for which he was given the military medal.

"When I come here, I feel extremely sad to think that I lost so many wonderful comrades.

"Some 226 were killed, wounded or missing out of about 500 in my battalion.

"It is so sad for me to think of the German men who died too."

Gordon does not harbour any resentment against Germany and points out that for the past 57 years he has been married to German-born Marianne.

He said that he could not have hoped for a more delightful brother-in-law or mother-in- law.

"It is just terribly sad that we had to go through all of this."