D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday

Donald Butt said he had learned "money doesn't bring happiness"

A D-Day veteran who joined the Royal Marines - despite not being old enough or able to swim - has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Donald Butt went to Juno beach on a landing craft on D-Day after enlisting with the marines in 1943. "I went in as a boy and came out as a man. It made me," he said.

Mr Butt, who lives in Somerset, went on to have four children, eight grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Asked about what he had learned during his 100 years, Mr Butt said: "I've been happy and never had money, money doesn't help and doesn't bring happiness."

Mr Butt said he remembered his time with the marines fondly and had a "wonderful time" in Tahiti.

"The marines taught me everything I know, my way of living. Everything has to be perfect," he added.

He kept many souvenirs from his times with the marines, including his original kit bag, crossing the line certificate and his "housewife kit", which contains the original wool and needle.

Donald Butt celebrated his 100th birthday with a party over the weekend

He was never issued a D-Day medal because he joined up at 17 after lying about his age, but his daughter said the Royal Marines were in touch with the French government to try and get him one.

After World War Two, Mr Butt moved to Worle and worked in the quarry industry until he retired at 65.

He met his wife in Weston-super-Mare and married her in 1947. They were together until she died 11 years ago.

Music group, The D-Day Dollies, performed wartime favourites at Mr Butt's birthday party in Shepton Mallet on Saturday and members of the Royal Marines and his family attended.

"We love him so much, you can't say anything without getting emotional because he's a really big part of our lives," his granddaughter Gemma Lazarevic, who travelled from Australia to see her granddad, said.

"He's very kind, generous and he's just shown us so much love. We feel very privileged to be his family," she added.