However, for Pieter Vrasca, accompanied by his wife Angelina, the journey was one he has taken across Europe and was described as "probably my last foreign holiday."

As well as visiting the site where he and his Polish colleagues were stationed, Pieter also was set to travel across Europe to visit Monte Cassino, the site of one of the war's most bloody conflicts where he and many of his countrymen fought alongside British forces.

Of his Brechin visit, Pieter said: "It was sad to see that the distillery we stayed in at North Port was no longer there. It's now your supermarket.

"However, I have very vivid memories of my time in Brechin. The people were so friendly and many of the local youngsters found us an interesting sight as many of us had bright colourful uniforms which were an obvious draw for them.

"It was a very difficult time for many of us. I hail from Gdansk In Poland and many of my fellow countrymen were from larger towns and cities as well.

"I think we felt that the time we spent in Brechin was one of the more enjoyable parts of 'our war'.

"The people were so friendly and we would often have a number of the local kids who wanted to clean our boots or go on errands for cigarettes for us. They loved to help and we paid them what little tips we could in return.

"Many of us were stationed at the North Port and the smell of the Scotch is something that I always recognise if ever I am near a distillery today.

"There were more of our colleagues stationed up near your hospital (Brechin Infirmary).

"The Polish Infantry were billeted in the North Port Distillery, also in Glencairn House in Infirmary Street, where they had their radio station. I remember in both locations sitting eating meals at long tables and singing the Polish National anthem.

"I think we were quite a spectacle for many of the locals. Some of our officers still rode horses at the time and our uniforms were probably more distinctive than those of the British and Americans and that grabbed a lot of attention.

"I had read on the internet that the North Port was no longer here. However, I wanted to come to the town.

"So much of the centre looks exactly the same. When I walked down the middle of the street past the police station the memories came flooding back to me."

Pieter was leaving on Wednesday to fly with his wife to Italy and he admitted that, while the visit to Brechin rekindled so many happy memories of the days he spent with his army comrades, his emotions would be far more mixed on the next leg of his journey.

It was a trip to an area he described as "sheer hell on an unimaginable scale, amidst one of Europe's most scenic settings."

The Abbey at Monte Casino is one of the most famous in Europe. It was founded by Saint Benedict of Nursia in 529 AD on a former site of the temple of Apollo. It is located 75 miles south-east of Rome.

The town of Cassino and its abbey stood in the way of allied forces in their objective to liberate Rome.

The German troops surrounded the abbey. From this vantage point, they controlled air and ground fire against the Allies. American and British forces were unable to take Monte Cassino from the Germans and withdrew from the battlefield.

The Polish 2nd Corps took their place and were victorious. They succeeded in taking Monte Cassino after three weeks of fierce fighting in mountain terrain which left the troops exposed to enemy snipers on the slopes.

Upon taking the abbey, the Poles raised the white and red flag of Poland on top of the ruins of the monastery.

On May 18 1994, Poland commemorated one of its greatest victories during World War II against Nazi Germany.

Ceremonies were conducted at the Polish Cemetery at Monte Cassino to honour the 1,100 Poles who died while storming the abbey.

Looking forward to his visit to Monte Cassino Pieter said: "I am not a man for wearing medals, they are for the past.

"There were soldiers who showed much more bravery than I and gave their lives in the conflict.

"I am going to Monte Cassino to remember my colleagues amongst the 1000-plus Poles who lost their lives.

"I vowed I would always make this trip to Scotland and to Italy while I was still able to get around.

"Yes, I have been awarded my cross for my involvement in the battle at Monte Cassino. However, much more important for me, was the comradeship, the like of which I had never seen before or since, which was so admirably displayed by so many of my colleagues during that bloody and dire conflict."

As he prepared to leave Brechin he added: "This little part of Scotland will always have a very dear place in my heart.

"As a young Polish boy, I couldn't have wished to be amongst better people than your locals here in Brechin.

"My heartfelt thanks goes out to them for the hospitality and warmth they showed me all those years ago.

"You will understand, however, an even larger slice of my heart lies in and around the hills of Monte Cassino, where so many of my dearest countrymen fell. I will have a heavy heart visiting their final resting places."