D-Day 80: WW2 veterans share frontline memories with London pupils

D-Day and Normandy veterans (left to right) Alec Penstone, 98, Gilbert Clarke, 98, Richard Aldred, 99, Henry Rice, 98, Donald Howkins, 103, Mervyn Kersh, 98, Stan Ford, 98, Ken Hay, 98, and John Dennett, 99 outside the Union Jack Club in London, along with the D-Day Darlings Voices Choir

A group of Second World War veterans have come together to share a "bit of living history" ahead of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The nine men, aged between 98 and 103, gathered at the Union Jack Club, near Waterloo, on Friday.

Three of them also shared their experiences with pupils aged between 10 and 14 from three schools in London.

Organisers have said it is likely to be the last time they are seen together outside the official D-Day events.

The commemorations will be taking place in Portsmouth and Normandy in June.

Ken Hay, Alec Penstone, Stan Ford, Henry Rice, Donald Howkins, Richard Aldred, Gilbert Clarke, John Dennett and Mervyn Kersh travelled from across the UK and posed for a group photograph outside the club on Friday.

D-Day veteran and Ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial Stan Ford, 98, who served with the Royal Navy, meeting a pupil from Norfolk House School

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, veteran Ken Hay explained why meeting the younger generation was so important.

He said: "They can learn so much from books but we're part of the living, we're a dying breed so it's their opportunity where they can't ask a book the question, they can ask us and we'll do our level best to answer them."

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General Lord Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British Army, addressing the gathering, said: "It's all about the veterans, bon voyage to them!

"Let's take the opportunity now to get to know them, to meet them, to hear their stories, to write about their stories, to film their stories, to record their stories so that this bit of living history is captured."

The D-Day operation of 6 June 1944 brought together the land, air and sea forces of the allied forces in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history.

It is regarded as a success and began the process of ending the war in Europe.

D-Day veteran Alec Penstone meets students from Kingsford Community School earlier on Friday

Mr Aldred, 99, who served as a tank driver and landed on Gold Beach in Normandy the day after D-Day spoke to the children about the camaraderie within his regiment.

He said: "You all stick together like glue and the main thing is 'how soon can I have a cup of tea and a bully beef sandwich?"'

Mr Aldred recalled hearing a "god awful thump" when the gearbox of his tank was hit by enemy fire in France.

Mr Ford, 98, who served on HMS Fratton, an escort ship that accompanied vessels taking men and supplies across the Channel, recalled seeing thousands of ships setting sail on D-Day from his station in Selsey Bill on the south coast of England.

He said: "Battleships, cruisers, destroyers, right down to the small little minesweepers.

"As a 19-year-old, I said to myself 'we're not going to lose this war', which we didn't."

Mr Ford told the pupils there were "humorous times" that helped his regiment get through the war.

Chuckling, he said: "There was a time when the refrigeration system broke down so we were told to eat as much meat as we could.

"I remember eating a whole shoulder of lamb to myself!"

D-Day veterans Richard Aldred (second left), 99, who served with the 7th Armoured Division of Royal Tank Regiment, and Ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial Stan Ford, 98, meeting pupils from Norfolk House School on Friday

When asked what he hoped his pupils will take away from Friday's event, Rob Ashton, a year six teacher at Norfolk House school in Muswell Hill, said: "They will remember that they've had the experience of meeting somebody who was there and they'll tell their future generations.

"They'll go back to school today telling other children 'wow, I've met a veteran who was there at the war at the D-Day landing.'"

Of the event's importance, Paul Thomas, headteacher at Parkwood Primary School in Finsbury Park said: "Particularly with the age of the veterans and the age of our children, it is likely they are the last generation that will get to meet veterans in person."

The event was organised jointly by The Normandy Memorial Trust and The Spirit of Normandy Trust and the D-Day Darlings Vocal Choir also gave a performance of famous wartime songs.

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