Walter Wilson: 'I painted crosses for the dead'

Walter Wilson was a trainee painter when World War Two broke out - and his skills were soon put to use on the frontline.

While many of his friends were working in the mines, Walter was tasked with painting rows of crosses for those killed in the line of duty.

"[I was] stencilling numbers of those who had been killed," he said.

"They were all young people just like I was. Eighteen, nineteen."

Walter died in May 2024, aged 98.

We Were There aims to collect as many first-hand accounts as possible by 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, to preserve veterans' accounts for future generations.

The BBC is currently working on the project with a number of partners including the Normandy Memorial Trust and Royal British Legion. Some of the stories collected may be shared with our partners and used on BBC News platforms.

If you have a story to share, or know someone who does, please click here to tell us a little bit more or use one of the methods below.

Do you or someone you know have memories of World War Two? Please share these experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: