THE sons of two Royal Marine Commandos want to trace the family of their father’s wartime colleague and friend, who was killed in action in the Second World War.

Sergeant Albert John Henry Hewitt, known as Harry, Corporal Eric Taylor and Corporal James Jimmie Whitaker all served with 46 RM Commando ‘S’ Troop, which was sent to France on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

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When they landed the following day, meeting fierce opposition from the Germans, Jimmie was mown down by a machine gun burst.

Harry and Eric never forgot him, and always said a prayer to his memory on Remembrance Sunday.

Now, their sons Jeff Hewitt and Keith Taylor are trying to trace his family, who they believed came from Burnley and find a photograph of the wartime hero they heard so much about.

Keith has another reason for seeking information, as he writing a book about the the troops’ time in France and the build up to the battle in the village of Rots on June 11, the day Jimmie lost his life.

Said Jeff: “What we both want, so much, is to find a picture of Jimmie.

“My father did keep lots of photographs from the war, but we have no idea if any of the men are him, or not.

“We know that when S Troop landed on D-Day plus one, it moved straight up to the front line and met some fierce opposition from the Germans as they advanced through Normandy.

“On June 11, while working in dedicated pairs they encountered heavy street fighting in two villages, Le Hamel and Rots and after flushing out German soldiers from occupied houses, they chased a group through a gap in a high boundary wall.

“Jimmie got there first and caught a full machine gun blast. He was killed instantly.

“Dad never forgot Jimmie for the rest of his life – he lived to the age of 83 – and always considered he saved his life by being the faster runner!”

Added Jeff : “I just want to share his story with any of Jimmie’s family who are still around.

“My father kept much memorabilia and among it are two letters he received from Jimmie’s mother, Edith Whitaker, whose address was 139, Gainsborough Avenue, in Burnley.

“There is another which he wrote to my mother that June, which reads: “As for my dear friend Jim Whitaker Cpl he landed with me but was killed in action when we attacked a village on Sunday. As long as I live I shall never forget his bravery on that fateful day, when so many of my friends also gave their all and the memory of him as a pal and brother will remain with us who are left for all time.”

He continued: “ Keith and I both feel duty bound to see if we can trace down any surviving relatives of Edith and Jimmie so we can share what we know about him with them.”

n Gold, commonly known as Gold Beach, was the code name for one of the five areas of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944.

Gold, the central of the five areas, was located between Port-en-Bessin on the west and La Rivière on the east. High cliffs at the western end of the zone meant that the landings took place on the flat section between Le Hamel and La Rivière.

The town of Rots was bitterly contested during the fighting in the Battle of Normandy, 122 German grenadiers were killed when British Royal Marine Commandos defeated the 46th SS Company of the 1st Regiment 26 of the Hitler Youth. Allied tanks fought German panzers in the old village streets.

Rots was finally liberated June 12.