This week for Looking Back, we are looking at a recent commemoration of an important moment from the Second World War.

The First Infantry Division Living History Group continued their annual remembrance activity, where they honour the First US Army Infantry Division, or the "Big Red One" as it was called, who suffered enormous losses on Omaha Beach on D Day, which happened 74 years ago last week (June, 6 1944).

Thank you to the re-enactment group's unit commander, Marcus Spencer, for providing us with the information and to the group for providing the pictures for this piece.

For a number of years, the group have visited Walditch each year, and re-created the American camps in Walditch as a way of honouring the First US Army Infantry Division, where the group was based before leaving for the beaches of Normandy.

The group represent E company of the 1st Infantry division, who along with G company, numbered 1000 by the time the troops left for the invasion.

The troops were stationed in the area from November, 1943 until June, 1944, before heading for Omaha Beach.

Officers lived in the Manor House, or The Hyde as it was known, and the non-commissioned officers were billeted in houses across the road from the real tennis court, which was used during the war by the US Army for vehicle maintenance and dances.

There has been some fiction over whether or not the GIs were popular with the local girls, local expert Robin Stapleton has said, but the overall impression was that the troops settled in quickly and got on with locals.

Living 4000 miles from home, the troops had quite an impact on the village and the local area.

The First Infantry Division and one regimental combat team from the 29th Infantry Division were part of the first wave of troops that assaulted German Army defences on Omaha beach.

The division had to run 300 yards to the buffs and suffered 30 per cent of casualties in the first hour of the assault, securing Formigny and Caumont by the end of the day.

The re-enactment group spent the weekend of Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20 in Walditch, setting up camp like the US Infantry would have done.

Members then visited Walditch Church, where they had an emotional church ceremony remembering those who fought for us.

Group unit commander, Marcus Spencer, said: "The weekend was one of the best, it's a chance to live part of history and remember the guys who sacrificed so much of our freedom.

"We also use the weekend for training. We do gas mask training, compass and map work, weapons training and first aid.

"Also the church in Walditch lays on a special service of remembrance where we attend in our Class A uniform.

"The group does shows all around the country but if they had to choose only one event it would be Walditch, this is what Living History is all about."

For the 75th anniversary next year, members will lay a reef at the church, to commemorate the division.

To find out more about the work members do in commemorating those in the Second World War, visit facebook.com/1stdivLHG or their website 1stinfantrydivisionlhg.com