World War II veteran, Trooper Roy Hayward, who lost both legs during the D-Day landings, will be laid to rest on the Isle of Wight. The 99-year-old, the last known surviving D-Day veteran from the Sherwood Rangers' Yeomanry, passed away shortly before Christmas.
Nottinghamshire army veterans and serving soldiers are preparing to give a final salute to Trooper Roy Hayward , a tank crewman who lost both his legs after landing on Gold Beach on D-Day in 1944 after his Sherman tank came under attack from a German Tiger. Mr Hayward died shortly before Christmas, aged 99, and his funeral will be held on the Isle of Wight on January 16. He was the Carlton-based Sherwood Rangers ' Yeomanry's last known surviving second world war and D-Day veteran.
Trooper Roy was able, with the Carlton squadron's support, to play a prominent role in the Portsmouth-based ceremonies last year marking 80 years since D-Day. He was given a standing ovation. His remarkable story resurfaced in recent years, including how he overcame disability, and by May 1945 had returned to work at National Westminster Bank in London’s Covent Garden. In 1948 he married fellow bank employee Barbara, and together they bought a plot of land to have their own home built. Aged 48, he and Barbara decided to create a completely new life at Seaview on the Isle of Wight. Roy was involved with Blesma, the limbless ex-servicemens’ organisation, and awarded a commemorative medal in 1992 for his tireless work with them. He was, for over 20 years, the treasurer of a local cancer charity and even played bowls until a few years ago. Even in his last years he was active enough to wear his legs out and attend a prosthetic clinic for repairs every six months. Following from his wartime exploits, later in life he was honoured by the French government, being awarded the Legion d’Honneur in 2016. In recent times, he wrote an account of his life's highlights: 'In 1943, at the age of 18, I enlisted and was posted to the Armoured Training Regiment at Bovington. 'In May 1944, I joined the Sherwood Rangers. I learned that that following an outstanding performance in the desert war they had been brought back to train for the invasion of Europe
D-Day Veteran Trooper Roy Hayward Sherwood Rangers Isle Of Wight
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