A 91-year-old World War Two veteran who was recently honoured by the French Government is encouraging others to return to Normandy, funded by fines from the Libor banking scandal.
John Wintle, from Caerphilly, was given the Legion D’honneur in February, France’s highest honour.
Mr Wintle landed in France with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1944 and set up laundries and took part in recovery work.
He applied to join the Army to learn a trade when he left school at 15, unaware that war was around the corner, preferring that choice to going down the mine.
But after leaving the Army Mr Wintle did work underground, for six years at Llanbradach Colliery.
Next month he will travel to Normandy with other veterans, returning to the scene of France’s liberation from the Nazis.
The former secretary of the Normandy Veterans Association South Wales Branch 15 is encouraging veterans to apply for a trip back to where so many died and risked their lives.
Mr Wintle said: “I’ve been back to Normandy about half a dozen times.
“I want to remember those who fell and make other veterans aware that the opportunity is there.
“My regiment was away from the frontline so I didn’t see many serious injuries, not like the artillery at the front.
“Veterans of the Normandy campaign were given the Legion D’honneur as a thank you for liberating France.
“I was very honoured to receive it as I didn’t think I would get it, there’s a lot of veterans that deserve it more than me.
“I was one of the lucky ones, when I went there I was single, but lots of men had wives and families and didn’t come back.”
The 12 remaining members of his redundunt Veterans Association branch continue to meet up as a social club and many of them have applied to go on the tour.
The trips run until September and cost £725, that is then recovered from Libor fines and paid back to the veteran.
Veterans who wish to apply for the tour or want more information can call Mr Wintle on 02920 883030.