A former army medic from Stoke-on-Trent will be marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day today by remembering his grandfather, who took part in the Normandy landings.

Lee West, 50, served for 10 years himself, including two tours of Bosnia before leaving in 2000. During that time he was involved in delivering emergency care on the front-line.

Now, he receives support from Help for Heroes for the physical pain he is living with, caused by a back injury, as well as mental health problems due to his experiences in Bosnia.

Lee said: "The D-Day operation largely marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War. It's so important to continue to remember the brave heroes who selflessly fought for our freedom and saw unimaginable terrors. Things that no amount of training could fully prepare them for."

Lee's grandfather, Frank, on his wedding day (Help for Heroes).

Lee's grandfather was Warrant Officer Frank Adams, a talented musician from Luton who played the trumpet, and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment. He had already been part of the invasions of Sicily and Italy, when at the age of 31 he joined the landings in Normandy on Gold Beach. With over 1,200 casualties, the infantry soldiers including Grandad Frank took the sea defences that had made the landing the most difficult of the assault.   

Over the following days Frank's regiment pushed deeper into North West Europe and on day four, a 105-pound shell exploded close-by, and he received a number of shrapnel wounds, one of which destroyed his right hand. He was medically discharged and sadly suffered with mental health problems as a result of his experiences for the rest of his life.   

Lee said: "My grandad found life difficult due to the loss of any major use of his hand and not being able to play music. His mental health took a huge hit. He wasn't a very social man in his last few years sadly, but I remember his warmth and strong hugs. He never talked about the war or his injury. He was a proud man and didn't want a fuss. I'd say knowing what I do now about mental health, that he was a prime candidate for PTSD." 

Today (6 June) marks 80 years since the Normandy landings (Wiki Commons).

Lee added: "Many who survived the D-Day landings returned home to face new battles. Painful injuries, mental trauma, isolation, disability and poverty, and unfortunately this is still happening for veterans today," 

 Lee is supporting the Help for Heroes D-Day appeal. "Too many veterans like me feel broken, with nowhere to turn.  I first contacted Help for Heroes about my physical pain, but my caseworker quickly saw that I needed much more than just a support bed or a wheelchair. He became like a confidant, a friend. We always had a bit of a laugh and he never judged me, which made a really big difference at the time. 

"Every single person who supports Help for Heroes is actively helping to make a life-changing difference for veterans and their families, which could help pay for time with a trained counsellor, and the emotional support they need to turn their lives around. Whether 1944 or 2024, no matter when, or where someone served, we need to make sure no veteran, or their family suffers in silence." 

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READ MORE: D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration event to take place in Stoke-on-Trent

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