A D-DAY soldier has called for Veterans' Day to be turned into a public holiday.

The plea was made in Eastleigh yesterday as members of the Royal British Legion gathered at the Leigh Road war memorial to remember those who never returned from the battlefields.

In Southampton, veterans were invited to have lunch with the mayor.

Following the success of Veterans' Awareness Week in July 2005, which culminated in the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the government decided to hold its first ever Veterans' Day.

It is hoped it will become an annual event.

Jack Ashton, 86, a leading member of the Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford branch of the Royal British Legion said: "It is a very worthy day to remember our comrades."

Mr Ashton, who was in the Coldstream Guards and served in Dunkirk, said: "It would be wonderful if they could make it a public holiday so that all ex-servicemen could get together and remember old times."

Legion branch chairman Norman Brown laid a wreath at the war memorial, which is inscribed with the words "To our glorious dead 1914-1918, 1939-1945".

Yesterday was a day to remember all those brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in past and present conflicts.

Mr Brown, 80, who served in the Royal Engineers, said: "We should not forget those who sacrificed so much for this country of ours."

He added: "The Ministry of Defence has asked for feedback about today's event."

Mr Brown said he hoped that next year the Eastleigh tribute would be bigger scale and involve schools.

Southampton mayor, Councillor John Slade, had lunch with dozens of veterans from the Royal British Legion, Burma Star and Normandy Veterans groups together with serving officers.

He said it was a day to recognise what they had done for the country.

"War brings out the worst and also the best in people and it's nice to acknowledge that," he added.

The veterans enjoyed a Pimm's reception followed by poached salmon and vanilla cheesecake.

Sacrifices John Evans, 79, secretary of the Royal Hampshire Comrades Association, said: "It's a chance to think of all the lads who are here and those who are not, and the sacrifices they made."

"There are not many of us left now, a lot of us are in our late 80s," added Ernie Spacagna, 92, president of the Southampton branch of the Royal British Legion.

The aim of the nationwide event is to raise public awareness of the age range of veterans.