A MILITARY historian from York is appealing for photographs and information about men from the East Yorkshire Regiment who died on or around D-Day and are buried in Normandy.

Carl Shilleto’s own late grandfather was involved in the Normandy campaign of 1944.

Carl has been working as a battlefield guide for many years, and launched The Fallen Heroes of Normandy Project in 2009.

He wanted to create an archive which would eventually be presented to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and which would be accessible online for future generations.

He said that the project now had a website at fallenheroesofnormandy.org, which over the next five years would detail all the military personnel, of all nationalities, who now rest in cemeteries or churchyards around the Normandy battlefields.

Over the next two years, the project, supported by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, would concentrate on trying to obtain photographs of, and additional information about, the British and Commonwealth troops buried there.

He said that as time went by, there was a growing risk that images and information would be lost. “Therefore, it is important that relatives, friends or family historians have somewhere for that information to be preserved,” he said.

“If we are to expect future generations to appreciate the sacrifice of the fallen, they need to find meaning in the memorials and headstones erected in honour of those who paid the ultimate price.

“With the help of readers of The Press, we can together ensure the memory of York’s fallen is preserved for posterity.”

He said history students at York St John University who had helped with research for the project as part of their work experience would be showcasing their contribution at an event called Create, which would take place in York between May 17 and June 2.

“It will be an opportunity for the people of York to see what type of work their local students do, as part of their studies, and find out further information about the project and details about York’s war casualties.”

Photographs and information can be forwarded for the project either by email to fallenheroeswebsite@gmail.com, or copies can be posted to Fallen Heroes of Normandy Project, C/O Carl Shilleto, York Military Museum, 3 Tower Street, York Y01 9SB.