Whilst on patrol one day, PC Douglas Gray, of Greenford local policing team, struck up a conversation with an elderly gentleman, Joe Stiff, and found something in common, namely both were ex-forces.

PC Gray is an ex-Royal Marine and Joe was in the Army who served with the Kings Royal Rifles on D-Day, landing on Sword Beach in the Normandy invasion.

On finding out that Joe had nothing planned for the 70th anniversary of D-Day, PC Gray arranged a police escort and transport to his local Royal British Legion club in Greenford where he had the pleasure of a chat and drink with two other World War 2 veteran residents; Jack, ex-Navy, served elsewhere on a destroyer on D-Day and Cyril, also ex-Navy, served on a submarine on D-Day.

Joe served through France , Holland and Germany , before being sent to Palestine at the end of the war. Joe will be 91 next month and currently lives in Perivale.

PC Douglas Gray said: "It was an absolute pleasure and honour to spend a few hours with Joe, Jack and Cyril. I even broke the habit of a lifetime and put my hand in my pocket to buy them all a well deserved drink! Words cannot describe our gratitude, so simply, ‘thank you’ gents."