D-Day veteran dies months after 100th birthday

A seasoned of the D-Day landings who precocious celebrated his 100th day has died.

Lieutenant Richard Willis RN was the 2nd successful bid connected a landing trade tasked with taking US tanks and troops to Utah formation successful Normandy arsenic portion of Operation Overlord successful June 1944.

He was wounded successful the limb by shrapnel during the attack, and galore years aboriginal was awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the French government.

It has been confirmed Lt Willis, from Wellington successful Somerset, died successful September.

Ted Allen, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, presented Mr Willis with a day paper connected behalf of the King earlier this twelvemonth astatine a astonishment day celebration.

Paying tribute, helium said: “This is terribly bittersweet news. I americium truthful pleased we could successful immoderate mode people a immense milestone successful the beingness of this singular man.

“I volition ne'er hide gathering him and his family.”

The solemnisation took spot astatine the Nynehead Court Care Home successful February this twelvemonth wherever Lt Willis was a resident.

Speaking afterwards, Lt Willis, who was joined by his household for the surprise, said: “I’m not definite what I’ve done to merit this.

“I was conscionable there. But D-Day was an acquisition I volition ne'er forget.”

The Lieutenancy organised for the seasoned to beryllium presented with a D-Day illustration of the Utah formation landings, prepared by the UK Hydrographic Office and held successful its archives successful Taunton.

The illustration – erstwhile labelled Top Secret – was inscribed: “Presented to Lt Richard Willis… connected the juncture of his 100th birthday. With the acknowledgment and admiration of the Lord-Lieutenant and the radical of Somerset.”

After leaving the Royal Navy, Lt Willis became a nonrecreational creator and his enactment – peculiarly successful maritime creation – achieved precocious acclaim.

Much of his enactment was influenced by his wartime experiences and helium was the youngest ever exhibitor astatine the Royal Academy of Arts successful 1942.