War veterans will make an emotional return to the battlefields where they saw action almost 70 years ago.
Thanks to a boost from the Big Lottery Fund, those who served during the Second World War will be given the opportunity to relive their memories.
One of the first people to benefit from the Heroes Return 2 project will be Stirling pensioner Thomas Clifford. He is preparing to head back to the beaches of Normandy next year in time for his 90th birthday, as the former Royal Marine played a key role in the D-Day landings in June 1944.
“At that time I was a gun captain and our job was to land and be in the front of the queue, so to speak,” he said. “We were about 4,000 yards from the beach and we had to go in and bombard anything we saw that looked antagonistic.”
Although Mr Clifford has been back to France once before, this latest trip will be extra-special as it lands both on his birthday and the 70th anniversary of the campaign.
He revealed that his first priority when he arrives in Normandy will be to track down the spot where he and his comrades landed.
He said: “I can’t walk very well but I will go as far as I can and look at the view I can first remember seeing when I was nearly 20 years old.
“It will be an emotional journey but it’s a different kind of emotion; not just tearful as I am also full of pride for what we did.”
Mr Clifford is one of just five Scottish Second World War veterans who will make a commemorative visit through the Big Lottery Fund’s Heroes Return 2 programme, which gives grants for travel and accommodation expenses.
The families of soldiers who served are also being invited to get assistance for their trips and Annette Cameron from Alloa is heading to Singapore to remember her father William, who served there from 1945 until 1946.
“I heard that there were second trips available and I said to my mum did she want to do it and she said yes straightaway,” she said.
“It’s lovely as it brings the family together and brings back memories of my father.”