'Desert rats' present standard flags

The ceremony is at the Imperial War Museum North

Veterans from the World War II desert campaign handed over their standard flags in a ceremony in Greater Manchester on Tuesday.

More than 30 members of the 8th Army Association took part in the ceremony at the Imperial War Museum North.

Viscount Lord Montgomery of Alamein, son of the regiment's commander Field Marshall Montgomery, and the Earl Kitchener of Khartoum attended the ceremony.

The standards being handed over at the museum in Trafford were the traditional flags troops rallied round during battles.

Our grandchildren have taken more pride than our sons and daughters

Alf Davies, 8th Army Veterans Association

"In view of the 8th Army's strong associations with North West towns and cities it is most appropriate for the standards to be displayed at the museum," said Jim Forrester, director of the museum.

The association, which was made up of soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought in North Africa, disbanded in 2002 after the 60th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein.

Lord Montgomery said it was right that the standards were displayed in a "great new museum" dedicated to teaching young people about the horrors of war.

He added: "The folly of politicians brings about the death and destruction of so many lives."

Falling numbers

The 8th Army Veterans Association's vice-chairman Alf Davies said it was sad that annual reunions - attended by thousands just a decade ago - had fallen to just 200 in 2002.

He added: "Our grandchildren have taken more pride than our sons and daughters.

"They are suddenly beginning to realise the importance of what we achieved.

"We hope that these standards will remind them of that."