MORE than 60 years after the end of the Second World War, a group of men and women were yesterday honoured for the part they played in the fight against tyranny.

Several of them stand as straight as they did on the parade ground, but many are now frail, their eyesight failing, their hearing not what it once was, their weight supported by walking sticks.

But their memories are as sharp as ever.

Thirty men and women who played their part in the defeat of Hitler gathered in Durham's Dli Museum yesterday to finally collect their medals - Her Majesty's Armed Services Veterans Badge.

The city's MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, presented the badges, after contacting the veterans to be honoured in person rather than through the post.

And as they gathered they retold stories of everyday heroism and horror, of Arctic convoys and desert battles, of code-breakers and cooks.

It was a doubly special occasion for Joan Smith, of Newton Hall, who was celebrating her 84th birthday.

During the war, she worked on the South Coast searchlight batteries, plotting Luftwaffe bombers and incoming V2 rockets.

Recalling events, she said: "When our planes were crippled and were trying to get back, it was my job to contact all the searchlights to turn them on and give them a bearing - we saved a lot of lives that way."

Mrs Smith met her future husband, Reginald, while working on the batteries. Although he died 30 years ago, she was thinking of him yesterday.

"I think of this as being for both of us," she said.

Also receiving his award was 83-year-old Gordon Ingram, of Sherburn. Called up at the age of 18, he fought his way across the world, from Madagascar to Iran and the invasion of Sicily, but his darkest hour came during the invasion of Italy.

He said: "The one time I was really frightened was at Anzio beachhead - it was a nightmare.

"We were hemmed in with the sea at our back, dug into foxholes. We lost 1,000 men in ten weeks, I lost my best mate there, he was killed by a shell.

"It sticks in your mind to this day."

All armed forces personnel who served during the war were eligible for the veterans badge, but a Government campaign was launched last year to ensure more people applied for the honour

Yesterday's event was organised by Dr Blackman-Woods to ensure that veterans were properly honoured for the role they played in their younger days.

She said: "It was quite emotional and it makes you think about all the people who were involved, whether they were cooks or telephonists.

"Their memories were extraordinary and you could see what a life-changing experience it was for them."

Jim Alty, 86, of High Shincliffe, County Durham, was among the first British units into France on the outbreak of war, survived the beaches of Dunkirk and went on to see action at North Africa.

He said "It's nice to think after so long that people still remember, even people of younger generations who weren't alive at the time.