WAR veteran John Bowditch has shared these photos with Looking Back of a trip to France earlier this year.

He hopes an eagle-eyed reader with a good memory might know the names of two former American soldiers who took part in the D-Day commemorations after leaving from Weymouth.

The Weymouth and Portland and District Merchant Navy Association trip was organised by Captain Paul Compton, the group’s CO for the D-Day commemorations.

He said: “We met two American servicemen whom in 1944, can remember very well disembark-ing from the train at Weymouth station, and marching through the town to the quay, and board-ing a ferry ship to sail for France.

“They landed on Omaha Beach.”

John enclosed a photo of them talking to Capt Paul Compton.

He added: “It was a very moving experience; over six days we visited different parts of the D-Day landing sites, met a lot of veterans and VIPs and royalty.

“The meeting with the two US veterans was so quick, I wish that I got their names.”

The Weymouth and Portland and District Merchant Navy plans to erect a memorial on Weymouth Esplanade to local seamen who died in the World Wars.

n Do you know who these two men are? Or are you one of them? If so, get in touch with Looking Back on 01305 830973 or by emailing joanna.davis@dorsetecho.co.uk