PREPARING for one of the most historic days of the Second World War held little fear for Stan Robinson - he felt lucky.

Leading Seaman Robinson had cheated death when his minesweeper was sunk because he was in hospital recovering from sea-sickness.

And during more than four years' service on board the destroyer HMS Middleton, only three of his crewmates had been killed.

Mr Robinson - now an 84-year-old great-grandfather living in County Durham, but then a third gunner aged 24 - was ready for D-Day.

His ship was to be one of the lead destroyers in the assault on Sword Beach and he was to have a grandstand view.

Originally HMS Middleton was third in line, but a Norwegian destroyer was sunk just ahead with the loss of 30 lives, and it was moved forward.

He said: "What a great thrill we had when we picked up speed, turned to starboard and began our bombardment with broadsides from our twin four-inch guns.

"Being a trainer on number three gun, I had a grandstand view of our troops landing on Sword Beach.

"At the same time, battleships, cruisers and rocket launchers were joining in the welcome to the Germans."

For the remainder of D-Day and the following day, the 280ft Newcastle-built ship continued pounding targets chosen by a forward observation officer inland of the beach-head.

But there was a shock in store.

He said: "After our performance, we took station on the left of the beach-head, but got a rude awakening when a big gun from the cliff next to Le Havre started firing.

"This was troublesome for a day or two until the airstrip above Sword Beach was constructed, and then the Typhoon rocket-firing planes ended the interference."

Mr Robinson, a mineworker whose National Service started when he was 21, was demobbed in February 1946 and returned home to Tow Law, County Durham.

He went on to resume an amateur football career he had started before the war and work at local steel mills.