A BRAVE war veteran whose journey towards the D-Day landings started in Greenock has helped shine a spotlight on the 80th anniversary of the momentous moment in history. 

Cyril 'Lou' Bird, who is now 100, passed a torch of commemoration to Army cadets at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle. 

The 'Lighting Their Legacy' programme of events has been organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and represents the passing on of the D-Day legacy to a new generation. 

Cyril joined the 58th training regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps at the age of 17 in May 1941. 

On January 1, 1942, he sailed from Greenock via Baltimore, USA, to Cape Town, South Africa, and round the east coast of Africa to finally arrive in Egypt three months later. 

In April 1942 he became a Desert Rat serving in the 8th Army, 7th Armoured Division, 22nd Armoured Brigade, and drove a Crusader tank in the North African campaign. 

He then fought in the Desert War, which resulted in the first victory against the Germans and Italians at the Battle of Alamein. 

In June 1944, Cyril landed on Gold Beach near Arromanches on D-Day, June 6, 1944 at around midday, for the start of Operation Overlord. 

He was wounded at Aunay-sur-Odon in Normandy when a shell exploded close to him and shrapnel became lodged in his back and legs. 

Cyril was sent back to the UK to recuperate and in September 1944, he joined the regiment in Holland and liberated Ghent, then crossed the Niederrhein to support the airborne attack on Arnhem.

He was again wounded when a piece of shrapnel went through his lower jaw removing some teeth.

Cyril was awarded the military medal for bravery in action at Hertogenbosch, and returned to Belgium to fight in the Ardennes in severe winter conditions.

From May January to May 1945, he travelled north through Germany finally reaching the Kiel Canal near Hamburg on VE Day on May 8, 1945.

He was demobilised on October 23, 1946.