KINGTON residents young and old were preparing to leave for France this week to remember the Herefordshire lives lost in the Second World War.

Local Royal British Legion members were planning to lay a wreath at the St Charles De Percy cemetery, where more than 40 county men are thought to be buried, during 65th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings.

They will also visit the grave of tragic teen soldier Jack Banks, who lied about his age to fight, as well as meet up with pupils from Lady Hawkins’ School during the six-day trip.

Thanks to a long-standing relationship between Lady Hawkins and veterans of the conflict, around 30 GCSE history pupils will have the privilege of being among the few schools attending official services marking the milestone.

Humanities director Nick Dinsdale, leading the group, said it would be a poignant trip for two students in particular after arrangements were made for them to visit the graves of their own relatives who lost their lives in the battle.

“It becomes really quite personal and meaningful for those individuals,” he said.

Visits to Hill 112, where more than 7,000 British troops lost their lives in a matter of days, will also be made alongside a trip to Bayeux and Arromanches, where related films are shown.