SEVENTY years ago today a hush fell over the country as the men destined for the D-Day beaches sat down to write what might be their last letters home to family and loved ones.

After years and months of training, the biggest sea-borne invasion the world had ever seen was about to be launched, to free Europe from the Nazis.

These men, of the Glasgow Home Guard, were ready for action too. After all, if the invasion had failed, they would have been called into action to protect our city.

Armed with Sten Guns and Lee Enfield rifles, they are seen here on exercise in a mock village, built on the outskirts of Glasgow, practising the kind of house-to-house fighting tactics which, thankfully, they never had to use for real in the face of the enemy.