'Remarkable' D-Day veteran dies after 100th birthday

Richard Willis sat with his self portrait
Image caption,

Lt Richard Willis painted a self portrait of his time in uniform

  • Published

A veteran of the D-Day landings who recently celebrated his 100th birthday has died.

Lt Richard Willis, from Wellington in Somerset, was 20 years old when he served as second in command on a landing craft at Utah Beach, transporting US tanks and soldiers to Normandy for Operation Overlord.

On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, he described his experience as "real and frightening".

Ted Allen, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset said he was saddened to hear that he passed away in September and described Mr Willis as a "remarkable man".

Image caption,

Mr Willis was 20 years old when he served as second in command during the D-Day landings

Mr Allen presented Mr Willis with a birthday card on behalf of the King earlier this year at a surprise birthday celebration.

"I will never forget meeting him and his family," he said.

"This is terribly sad news.

"I am so pleased we could in some way mark a huge milestone in the life of this remarkable man."

The Lieutenancy organised for Mr Willis to be presented with a D-Day chart of the Utah beach landings, prepared by the UK Hydrographic Office.

The chart - once labelled Top Secret - was inscribed: "Presented to Lt Richard Willis... on the occasion of his 100th birthday.

"With the thanks and admiration of the Lord-Lieutenant and the people of Somerset."

Image source, Supplied
Image caption,

Lt Willis was injured during the D-Day landings

Speaking to the BBC In June, Mr Willis said during the D-Day landings he had found himself in a war which he "hadn’t understood".

"The lives that were lost were innocent. They weren’t there to fight a dangerous war, they just got into it, like me," he said.

Mr Willis suffered injuries when his leg was hit by shrapnel during the landings.

A photograph was taken of him in the aftermath, showing him being carried away on a stretcher.

Image caption,

Lt Willis turned his D-Day memories into artwork

The French government awarded Mr Willis its highest national decoration, the Legion of honour, for his service.

Later in life, Lt Willis turned his D-Day memories into paintings depicting what happened 80 years ago.

He was the youngest ever exhibitor at the Royal Academy of Arts, in 1942.

Get in touch

Tell us which stories we should cover in Somerset

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook, external and X, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

Related topics