THEY came with plenty of smiles and flowers.

Boys and girls learning about the D-Day landings at L'Ecole Primaire de Lingevres came face to face with the men they have so far only read about in their history books.

The pupils aged nine and ten, were joined by village mayor Christian Marie and two priests from the nearby Mondaye Abbey for a commemorative ceremony for veterans, who were presented with breast badges.

One of the veterans to receive one with his name and service number was Vernon House, 77, from Bassett, Southampton, who served in the Merchant Navy.

At remembrance events, he often thinks about his friend Robert Harris, who served with the Royal Hampshires but died aged 18. He said: "We had docked at Southamp-ton and I had some free time so I rushed home. I bumped into his mum and said: 'Have you seen Bobby?'

"She replied that she was worried because she hadn't heard anything. Minutes later she knocked on the door, with a telegram which she had just received saying he had died."