Flags of all nations were seen on the beaches of Normandy in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944.

The Manx flag flew on a restored wartime lorry, which has been painted to represent a vehicle of the Manx Regiment.

The lorry, which was built in 1943 for the British army by Ford in Canada, was adapted to tow a Bofors anti-aircraft gun and carry its crew and their ammunition.

The Manx Regiment, or to give it its proper title, the 15th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, used many of them during their wartime service in the north African desert, Italy and north-west Europe.

During the war the regiment became the most successful anti-aircraft unit of any of the allied armies.

The lorry was restored by three brothers who live in the Essex and Suffolk area.

Alastair, Gordon and Peter Thomas wanted to paint it exactly as it would have looked 75 years ago so they approached the Manx Aviation and Military Museum for advice in making the markings as accurate as possible.

Museum director Ivor Ramsden searched through the Manx Regiment archives to come up with details of how the lorry would have looked.

He said: ’I’m very impressed with the work that the brothers have done on the lorry and especially that they took it to Normandy, following in the footsteps of the regiment 75 years ago.

’The Manx flag was the final touch and it looks very colourful against the green camouflage paint on the lorry.’

Part-owner of the lorry Alastair Thomas said: ’We are very grateful for the helpful advice from the Manx Aviation and Military Museum. You will be pleased to know that we got the truck to Normandy and back safely. It was well admired and we got many comments about the Manx flag. We even managed to get it on the TV on June 6.

The Manx Aviation and Military Museum has a wartime self-propelled Bofors gun on display in the regiment’s D-Day markings and has a 1939 Morris six-wheel lorry awaiting restoration which was used to tow Bofors guns during the Battle of Britain and in the desert.

Mr Ramsden, who was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this month, is continually on the lookout for objects from the regiment’s wartime days which can be added to what acknowledged to be the best light anti-aircraft regiment museum anywhere.

The museum is open daily from 10am to 4.30pm until the end of September. Admission is free.