RETURNING to places where he once fought during the second world war was both an emotional, but unforgettable, experience for a former RAF man from Bridestowe.

George Heathman has just come back from the island of Malta and the deserts of the Middle East, where he accompanied fellow war veterans, invited through lottery grant 'Heroes Return 2' funding, to visit the battlegrounds they fought in more than 70 years ago.

Among them were members of the George Cross Association of Malta, of which George is a member.

He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in February 1939, aged 17, and trained in Canada before being stationed in Malta in December 1940, just as the Germans began to siege to the Mediterranean island — a vital naval base for the British and its supply route to Egypt.

George served there until September 1942, when he moved to the North African desert, as an air gunner and bomb aimer on a Wellington bomber — including on operations during the famous battle at El Alamein.

He left the RAF with the rank of Warrant Officer, and before retiring was a funeral director and stonemason.

In Malta, George, and his fellow British veterans, were guests at a banquet and ball at the Maltese embassy with the president of Malta, George Abela and his wife, the George Cross Island Association, the country's President Dr Rafels together with the British High Commissioner Louise Stanton.

The guests were treated to dances in the old style and old singing the wartime songs.

They also joined Maltese people in a special memorial service held at Malta Cathedral, dedicated to the civilian and service personal who gave their lives to save the island from the enemy.

Now aged 88, George told the Times: 'It was a great experience and to join such a large number of fellow veterans, meeting some I had not met or heard of since the war years, and many from our Commonwealth countries.

'I took some poppy crosses with me and was able to place them on the graves on behalf of ex-veterans who had been in touch with me, to fix on the graves of their comrades who had been killed.

'Services were held at a number of cemeteries and memorials throughout the town. It was all very emotional with names of our mates facing us on the memorial, and whose faces are always fresh on our minds.

'The highlight of it all was being with fellow veterans, sharing that kind of life of comradeship, which is never equalled in any other walk of life.'

George said he was very proud to have been among men who fought and served for their country.

'Between us we saw service in all corners of the world from the UK, Malta, Africa, the middle and far east, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as fighting through Italy and Europe from D-Day.

'Men of all ranks flew aircraft, manned ships and land weapons, took part in major land based companies.

'Some were prisoners of war who spent years in dreadful conditions; others worked front line support organisations had supplied partisans in Yugoslavia.

'These people represented a cross section of the best military machine in the world, which was something to be proud of, and who had experiences that tell a story of human and endeavour, sacrifice and comradeship to protect our countries with our lives.'

The Bridestowe man is a little saddened that the sacrifices of his generation may have been forgotten by many as time goes on.

However, the journey with his fellow veterans, is an experience the former RAF man will never forget.

He told the Times: 'All the veterans had a great get together and it brought back a lot of memories — good and sad.

'It was a special time when I saw the names of my comrades all there in front of me on the memorial plaque.

'I will never forget them!'