OXFORDSHIRE'S last remaining Second World War veterans have joined a call for others to share their memories of living through conflict.

Researcher Matthew Smaldon, who has worked tirelessly to chronicle the experiences of the county during the war, has issued a final plea to hear people's stories – before they are lost for good.

It comes after Mary Ellis, one of the first women to fly Spitfires, died on Tuesday aged 101.

The aviator, who was born and grew up in West Oxfordshire, joins a long list of people who contributed to the war-effort with links to the county to die in recent months.

Mr Smaldon is convinced there are still stories out there waiting to be told but has warned time is running out before the generation who served in the war is lost.

He said: "In the last few years, the number of veterans who are still alive has decreased significantly.

"Sadly, old age is catching up with people and a number of those who I have personally met, and whose stories I have recorded, have since passed away.

"The youngest people who served at Dunkirk are all now approaching 100 and there are less than ten fighter pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain who are still alive.

"When I first started doing this 13 years ago I had a huge number of people contacting me.

"In comparison in the last year I have spoken to half a dozen people and most of them were children at the time."

He added: "I would like to think there are stories out there that have not been shared.

"Some people have been reluctant to speak until very recently.

"As they become older they are more open to discussing it all and realise that their experiences are worth telling.

"The story of the Second World War is like a mosaic - each story makes up the bigger picture.

"Everybody's experiences were different and the host of individual memories make up the whole."

The interviews conducted by Mr Smaldon have provided a invaluable insight into Oxfordshire during war-time.

Speaking to civilians as well as veterans, his mission has seen him speak with people who were prisoners of war and helped build the Burma railway as well as those who served in the women's land army and lived in London during the Blitz.

Information gathered has been used in exhibitions at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock as well as in books and other research,

All the recordings are stored in an archive at the museum with a copy passed to the interviewee's family.

As the UK marks important anniversaries including the 75th year of the RAF, the research has allowed school children to gain an insight into the realities of war.

Basil Lyster, who last month received France's highest honour the Légion d’honneur for his efforts manning a landing craft as a Marine on D-Day, said together the men had managed to record a little-known part of the invasion.

He said: "I talked to him about many things that he hadn't heard of before, particularly the role of the landing crafts in protecting the beaches.

"It is such an important part of my history, not a day goes by when I don't think about it.

"I don't think we will ever see the likes of it happening again.

"We were very fortunate to survive and then live so long afterwards, but I am not in touch with anybody else who I served with now and it's up to people like me to pass on what happened.

"I do feel a great pride in that."

Abingdon-based Wing Commander Jim Wright, who turns 96 today, said he felt Mr Smaldon should be given an MBE for his efforts.

A navigator for Lancaster bombers who completed 43 missions, Mr Wright was one of 400 people interviewed over the years about his experiences.

He said: "I knew such gallantry and loyalty during the war – it had a great influence on my entire life.

"I never wrote a book about it all but I often wondered whether I should have done.

"The job Mr Smaldon has done has been invaluable.

"He has searched out people like me and written up their stories so they can be kept forever.

"Because of him future generations will know why and how we went to war."

Contact Matthew Smaldon on matthew.smaldon@sofo.org.uk or call 01235 415922