Army spirit soldiers on through the years during event in Wolverhampton

Second World War veterans rubbed shoulders with current servicemen and women at an event held in Wolverhampton to raise awareness of the armed forces.

At the Mander Centre, troops spent the day sharing their stories with each other, and the public, while looking for new recruits.

Among those there was Lance Corporal Ronald Mattison, from Essington, who served in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) during the Second World War, arriving in France after a deception plan by officers from the regiment deceived the Germans over the Normandy landings.

Operation Fortitude, held up by double agents working for the Allies, was partly designed to make the Germans believe a strong force, including officers from LCpl Mattison’s division, would target Norway, distracting defence units from France.

“It was a clever deception plan, which helped the Allies win the war,” said LCpl Mattison.

He was flown from Swindon to France following the successful operation and joined soldiers to cross the Rhine River as part of Operation Varsity before heading to Hamburg, when the Germans surrendered.

He said: “We had different equipment back then, but useful all the same.

“To cross the Rhine we used amphibian vehicles, which could go across land before turning in to a boat to cross the river.

“Now vehicles and machinery has changed, but the determination remains the same.” LCpl Mattison joined the armed forces aged just 16. Due to being underage he served in the Home Guard, based in Wolverhampton.

After the war he spent 20 years as a special constabulary officer. Now aged 91, he is president of the Essington Royal British Legion.

He said: “Days like this when we come together show the real spirit of the army and give us a chance to share our stories.”

During the event on Tuesday he was pictured with Sgt Mark Killeen, from Halesowen, who is in the 4 Mercian Reserves. He served for 23 years in the Royal Artillery.

Sgt Killeen joined the army aged 16 and served in Operation Granby in the Gulf War in 1991, as part of the 2 Regiment Royal Artillery.

He said: “It was a huge operation with 30,000 men and women, looking back it was quite exciting, many of the people who had served had not been in an operation like it.” He later served in Northern Ireland and Bosnia, and was a public services lecturer at Stourbridge College, before becoming Second in command of the regiment support at the 4 Mercian Reserves.

He said: “Times have changed a lot in the army. The weapons used especially – we are in a digital, technological world where much has advanced from decades ago.

“But the camaraderie, sense of belonging, humour and mutual respect for one another has not changed.”