IT would have taken far more than pouring rain to stop a contingent of veterans in Salisbury from commemorating the 59th anniversary of D-Day on Friday.

More than 40 gathered at the war memorial in the Guildhall Square for a service to mark the anniversary of the Normandy landings and to remember those comrades who never returned from the campaign.

The group, made up of about 30 members of the Normandy Veterans' Association, other ex-servicemen, standard bearers and Mayor of Salisbury Sue Mallory - on one of her last engagements before handing over the chain of office, never flinched as the weather mirrored that of 59 years ago.

Bert Williams, secretary of the Normandy Veterans' Association's Wiltshire branch, said they had already booked a coach and hotel for a visit to Normandy next year for the 60th anniversary.

He said members often visited schools to talk to pupils about the Normandy campaign, so that the memory of those who took part was kept alive.

This sentiment was echoed by Royal British Legion padre the Rev Jack Leeming during the service.

"The day will come when no-one is left who knew them, when no visitor to a cemetery can stand before a grave remembering a face and a voice," he said.

"But the day will never come when our country forgets them."

The Last Post and Reveille were played by ex-Royal Marines bandsman and Dunkirk veteran Jack Dwan (86), who completed the task perfectly despite having no shelter from the elements.

Next year the Journal will be publishing a D-Day special to mark the 60th anniversary of the landings and campaign.

We would like veterans living in the Journal's circulation area to contact us with their memories and experiences, so that we can include as many as possible in the special.