Navy veterans compare Normandy invasion stories

4 hours ago

Katy Prickett

News image — Ronald Hendrey and Henry Rice shared their different experiences of the Normandy invasion for the first time

Jay Hawkins Ronald Hendrey, in a grey fleece over a dark top, is clasping hands with Henry Rice, in a blue and white striped shirt. They are both seated and smiling. — Ronald Hendrey and Henry Rice shared their different experiences of the Normandy invasion for the first time

Two Royal Navy veterans who served during World War Two have met for the first time to share memories of the invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Ronald Hendrey, of Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, was a gunner during D-Day, while Henry Rice, from Cranleigh, Surrey, delivered supplies to Juno Beach.

Jay Hawkins, from St Ives, Cambridgeshire, introduced the centenarians, as part of a project where he asks veterans to sign a rifle and records their wartime stories.

"It was absolutely lovely - Henry walked in, with his walking stick, shouting out, 'Stand by your beds' and the men shook hands for about five minutes," he said.

Jay Hawkins Henry Rice in a striped shirt bending over Ronald Hendrey, who is sitting down on an armchair and wearing a light grey fleece. Ronald is reaching up his left hand to the side of Henry's face. — "Stand by your beds" was shouted at recruits, as they waited to find out if their bunks were going to pass inspection by someone senior

Hendrey, 101, was an able seaman aboard HMS Ulster and responsible for bombarding the German defences at Gold Beach, where British forces were dropped.

Hawkins said: "He was on the destroyer on the evening of 5 June to the morning of 6th, and his ship was firing shells over the beaches so that they could make way for the infantry to land and go into France.

"He remembers looking up and seeing P47 fighter planes and watching the gliders go overhead to deliver paratroopers," said Hawkins.

"The shells used to come over so close, he would hear them whistling with such a tremendous noise, it left him with tinnitus for life, while his ship fired so many shells, the guns got hot and the paint melted."

Troops from the UK, Canada, France and the US attacked German forces on the coast of northern France on 6 June 1944, known as D-Day.

It marked the start of the campaign to liberate German-occupied north-western Europe.

Signalman Rice, 100, was serving off Normandy in the days after D-Day, delivering vehicles, men and equipment to reinforce that effort at Juno Beach, where the Canadians had landed.

Henry Rice A sepia-toned black and white image of Henry Rice. He is wearing a black sailor hat and a World War Two sailor uniform. He is smiling. — Rice's son drove him over from his home in Cranleigh for the visit

Hawkins said: "Henry was asking about D-Day, wondering how chaotic the beaches were on the first day, and discussing the difference five days later.

"They also discussed their ships and how they differed - it was heart-warming, really, to see them sit down and discuss their experiences."

Like Hendrey, he was only 17 when he joined up - many volunteers lied about their age at a time when compulsory conscription began at 18.

He returned to the beaches this June.

Jay Hawkins Jay Hawkins wearing a cream suit, white shirt and pale yellow tie. He has short hair and is holding a 1939 Lee-Enfield rifle. It is covered in white signatures. — Jay Hawkins was recently invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, where he met Princess Anne and told her about his project

Hawkins has gathered 171 signatures on a 1939 Lee-Enfield rifle since he began his project in 2020.

He said: "I've clocked up about 40,000 miles (64,373km) so far and I'm heading to Wales to meet another veteran next month.

"They're the greatest generation, we're living amongst heroes, and it's all about trying to preserve their stories - and I get to meet the veterans themselves and shake their hands."

The painter and decorator records their interviews and hopes to eventually create a website where everyone will be able to access them telling their stories in their own words.

"Every veteran has a story and every story deserves to be told," he added.