As well as being 75 years since the D-Day landings, the day marks the anniversary of a personal tragedy for one family.

Simon Roots laid a wreath in memory of his first cousin once removed, Harold Henry Victor Roots,who died in a plane crash during the Battle of Normandy.

Born on November 13 1919, to Harold Henry Roots and Ethel Alice Roots, Harold grew up in Tufton Street, Maidstone and later lived in Allen Street.

He attended East Borough Council School from 1928 to 1932, while his father became a lorry driver.

Harold Junior later joined Maidstone Junior Technical School, until 1935 when he left to join the RAF as an apprentice fighter.

Just six years later in 1941 he was promoted to Corporal and a year later he was chosen as a Probationary Pilot Officer. He soon joined 3 Flight Instructor School based at RAF Lulsgate Bottom as a Flying Officer.

The site has since been transformed into Bristol Airport.

On March 23, 1944, Harold was instructing a pilot of the Royal Canadian Air Force in an aeroplane when one of the engines failed and the plane crashed into a hedge and ditch. Harold and his student escaped uninjured.

Three months later, he would not be so fortunate.

On June 6, 1944 Harold and his pupil, Peter Marshall Cadman, were taking part in routine training circuits on board an Airspeed Oxford, when one of the engines exploded.

The plane crashed to the ground and burst into flames just one mile away from their base.

Both men were killed instantly.

A 16-year-old farm-boy working on his parents' farm witnessed the crash and ran to try and help but realised there was nothing he could do to rescue the two men.

F.O. Roots is buried in Holy Cross Church, Bearsted, while Flt Lt Cadman is buried in Canterbury Cemetery.

Harold was just 24 and Peter just 22.

Now, 75 years later, Simon Roots who lives in Nottingham returned to the farm to lay a wreath in his cousin's memory.

He said: "I started researching my family history last years after visiting the war memorial sites in Belgium and France.

"I didn't even know Harold Junior existed and that was tragic to me, he was a 24-year-old who died in the Second World War.

"I took it upon myself to resurrect his memory and remind people of the lives that have been forgotten."

Mr Roots and his wife were joined by the son of the farm boy that discovered his cousins burning plane all those years ago.

He added: "When he was young he was tearing up sheets of aluminium from my cousins plane in the fields.

"He will be joining us for the memorial."

Mr Roots is keen to hear from any relatives who might be able to help him in his research.

"If anybody knows anything I would love for them to get in touch, I would love to put all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together."

Anyone who can help Mr Roots should contact him on simonroots164@btinternet.com