War heroes from the Midlands will this week be returning to the Normandy battlefields thanks to a series of UK National Lottery grants.
More than 400 veterans, widows and carers nationwide are being helped back to the D-Day beaches as part of the Heroes Return Fund run by the Big Lottery Fund and the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations (COBSEO).
Among the ex-soldiers is Laurence Morris, of Birmingham, who served with the Royal Engineers in a workshop unit.
Mr Morris's job was to maintain the small boats which were returning British troops, transporting supplies and taking prisoners back to the larger boats.
He said: "I went back about 12 years ago with three friends, but I was a bit younger then.
"I am exceptionally pleased, because of the Heroes Return Fund I am able to go back again for the 60th anniversary. It has helped me with my expenses as I can bring a carer."
Also returning to the beaches is Michael Stone, from Worcester, who joined up as a 20-year-old in
1940. When D-Day came, subaltern Stone was serving with an artillery regiment.
He said: "We were offshore on D-Day, but didn't actually land until the following day. In truth, our service from then on was fairly straightforward, with little drama. We were very fortunate.
"I've been quite active in recent years talking to schools about the experience of the war.
"I must say I'm always pleased with the reaction from the children, both girls and boys. They're always bursting with questions about what it was like."
The Heroes Return scheme also saw a group of exservicemen return to Monte Cassino in Italy last month and there are plans for veterans to return to the Far East.
The scheme has seen almost £2 million worth of grants being allocated.
Chairman of COBSEO, Major General Michael Shellard, said: "The opportunity this funding scheme represents to revisit the very places where veterans served during that significant era of their lives, means a very great deal to them - and indeed to all our member organisations of veterans' societies and regimental associations.
"The educational element of the overall Veterans Reunited programme being run by the Big Lottery Fund will give an historic opportunity for veterans to describe to young people what it was like to be involved in the Second World War."
How come none of the US lotteries thought of this?