A BLIND war veteran from Banbury will march at the Cenotaph in London tomorrow to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

John Cantwell, who served in the RAF between 1970 and 1980, will join more than 100 other blind veterans on what he said would be an 'emotional' day.

The march, organised by national charity Blind Veterans UK, will also remember those who were blinded at the Battle of the Somme around its 100th anniversary.

The 68-year-old, who has gradually lost his sight over the years due to a genetic skin disease, said: "I feel incredibly privileged to be attending the national commemorations with Blind Veterans UK again.

"They are a great bunch of guys, you never know who you might stand next and what their story might be.

"It's always an emotional day - it's about remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

"Even now there are those who are putting their lives on the line to help defend people who cannot defend themselves."

Mr Cantwell, who lives with his wife Elaine, joined the RAF in 1970 as part of the Motor Transport Service Station (MTSS) and was stationed in Cyprus, Oman and Anguilla in the Caribbean.

He said his men came under heavy fire when based at RAF Salalah in Dhofar, Oman in 1972.

Since 2010 the Banbury man has been receiving help from Blind Veterans UK and recently completed a 100km walk to Yorkshire for the charity.

As part of the national commemorations on Sunday he will join other vision-impaired ex-servicemen on a march to the Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall, London.