D-DAY MEMORIES: FOR Devizes D-Day veteran Basil Rabbitts, landing on Sword beach in June 1944 was a chance to get back at the enemy after the ignominious retreat from Dunkirk four years earlier.

Mr Rabbitts, from Broadleas Park, Devizes, was on the last transport from Dunkirk before the Nazis blew up the pier, making it necessary for the British and Empire soldiers to wade into the Channel to board their ships home.

It was a terrifying ordeal, but the return to France was a less harrowing experience. Mr Rabbitts was serving with the 60th City of London Regiment, part of the Territorial Army attached to the Royal Artillery.

His company, which operated heavy anti-aircraft ordnance, landed a week after D-Day but the action had not moved a great distance from the beaches.

He recalls: "We sailed all day and when we were nearing the Normandy coast we had a most wonderful firework display as hundreds of Allied guns let the Germans have it.

"The following morning we were disembarked onto Canadian landing craft. The guns and all the vehicles were loaded onto giant motorised rafts, called Rhinos.

"We had two casualties, an officer and a driver who were injured during a recce party."

Mr Rabbitts' regiment was sent to the outskirts of Caen, which was proving difficult for the Allies to liberate. It was essential a good harbour was established as supplies for the invasion force was pouring across the Channel.

Their guns joined in the barrage of the German defences and eventually the town was taken.

In the wake of the disastrous Operation Market Garden landings at Arnhem in Holland, Mr Rabbitts' regiment was sent to the Low Countries and it was there he met his wife. Annie.

He was billeted at her home where her seven brothers had hitherto protected her from any approach by potential suitors.

She said: "There was nothing they could do to stop me meeting Basil. If he hadn't turned up, I might never have got married."

See this week's 4 page 60th Anniversary of D-Day special in the Gazette & Herald