THE fame of one of Britain's oldest regiments stretches far and wide - and has now reached the west coast of the US.

An American living in California has set up his own Second World War Green Howards living history group.

And to get the details right, he travelled to Richmond, North Yorkshire, to visit their regimental museum.

John Comiskey, a former US Marines officer from Pleasanton in California, has based his 14-strong re-enactment group on the 6th Battalion, The Green Howards which landed on the Normandy beaches on D-Day.

The battalion was the most-travelled and hard-fought unit in 50 Division, General Montgomery's favourite Army division during the Second World War.

Mr Comiskey chose The Green Howards because his ancestors originated from North Yorkshire.

During the visit to the museum, with his wife Linda, Mr Comiskey was given copies of the D-Day "Top Secret" orders, as well as of 6th Battalion war diaries, by curator Major Roger Chapman. He also gave them regimental histories detailing the role of the 6th and 7th battalions in the Normandy campaign of 1944.

"They were fascinated by the links between The Green Howards and Richmond, and by the history of the castle and the town," said Maj Chapman.

"They were especially interested in the fact that the museum occupies the former Holy Trinity church, itself built on the site of the original Norman chapel, dating back to 1155."

The visitors moved on to London to complete their holiday by visiting the Imperial War Museum.

The highlight there for the couple was seeing the Victoria Cross of Green Howards Sergeant Major Stan Hollis, the only man to win the VC on D-Day.

The medal is on loan at the museum for a special D-Day display.