Children visited by Arnhem veteran

Stories of comradeship were shared with Black Country pupils at a special event to celebrate a Second World War veteran's 96th birthday.

Former platoon commander Cyril Ashley led 28 men in to fight for the bridges at Arnhem in Holland in Operation Market Garden in 1944. He served in the 1st Airborne Division on Horsa gliders and as an officer in the 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.

Mr Ashley, from Claverley, said he was "always happy to come and share his stories with the children" as he and fellow veterans met with year eight pupils at Alexandra High School, in Tipton yesterday.

Known as Ash, he is set to celebrate his 96th birthday on Saturday but was reluctant to steal the limelight from the wartime stories of fellow veterans.

He said: "I really don't want anyone to make a fuss over such a little thing. We're here to listen to the stories. The pupils were very kind to bring me a cake though."

Fellow veteran Arthur Jones, of Pendeford, Wolverhampton, shed a tear as he recounted a letter sent by his mother, Lily May Jones, to the Queen Mother asking after him, which he found with her affairs when she passed away.

The 84-year-old was part of reinforcements sent in following the D-day landings on Normandy and was later posted to 147 Essex Yeomanry as a Sherman tank driver.

He was called up, aged 18, on February 6, 1944 and served for the last 18 months of war, but did not take any leave to go home.

He said the letter, dated March 19 1945 showed 'the special love of a Mother and the good that comes of war."

He added: "Think of the state my mum must have been in. I was just a young lad and I'd been away from home for 18 months."