A war veteran has taken a trip to Westminster today (Thursday) to represent his WW2 raiding unit in a special Remembrance ceremony.

Jack Mann, 87, of Azalea Walk, Eastcote, attended the Royal opening of the Royal British Legion's Westminster Fields of Remembrance. Mr Mann visits the event at Westminster Abbey every year to mark Remembrance Day. 

At a previous ceremony, Mr Mann met the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, who pointed out Mr Mann's many medals, awarded for his service with the Long Range Desert Group during the Second World War.

He said: "I will represent the Long Range Desert Group at the ceremony. It is put on every year for Remembrance Day.

"I was a wireless operator in charge of communications in WW2. After the war, the LRDG unit was disbanded."

The LRDG was a raiding unit of the British army during WW2, and worked with SAS raiders on some of their early missions to bomb enemy aircraft.

Mr Mann was responsible for communicating from the patrol to it's headquarters using morse code.

The ceremony, which is attended by serving and veteran officers from the armed forces, honours the many men and women who have given their lives serving their country.

Mr Mann's friend, Fred Rice, contacted the Gazette on behalf of the modest war veteran. He said: "I think someone should draw attention to the great things he has done, and it should be honoured.

"He attends the service every year, and he is one of the longest surviving members of the Long Range Desert Group.

"He is also an absolute character." 

Read the Gazette on Wednesday to find out about Jack's memories of serving with the Long Range Desert Group.