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World War Two veteran Harold Sizer was left with a permanent reminder of his part in the campaign-a hearing problem from the noise of firing seven-tonne artillery guns.

Harold, who will be 89 later this year, is the only survivor from 30 men who left his home town of Haverhill to join th 58th Suffolk Medium Regiment in 1937, and can recall the names of every one of "The Haverhill Contingent".

Last Sunday his achievements were recognised when he was invited to the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk's VJ Day Parade in Bury St Edmunds.

Harold, of Allington Walk, Haverhill, said he was proud to march in the parade.

He said: "It was the best day out I have had for a long time, I don't go far now. I thought I might see some of my old pals I was in the army with from Bury, but I did not see one. I do keep in touch with one or two from Sudbury but I am the only one of the 30 left from Haverhill. It was hard in the desert, you got sand everywhere and you never had enough water. We had some very tough times, but we got through it. We lost six men in North Africa. They were huge guns, but some of the officers could hit a sixpence with them. We sometimes used to fire 300 shells a gun, and there were 16 guns, in just a few hours. The noise was deafening and that is why I can't hear much."

He was in France from 1939 to 1940, evacuated from Dunkirk, and later spent three weeks in hospital after having a gangrenous appendix removed.

He wanted to return to his regiment, but was sent to a prisoner of war camp instead to guard German officers.

When he returned to Haverhill he worked at Gurteens textile factory for more than 50 years, retiring at 76.

His wife Christine died nine years ago, but Harold says his five children, grand-children and great-grandchildren all help keep him company.