D-Day veteran Dennis Donovan
A D-Day commando whose unit landed in Normandy without helmets has died aged 100.
Dennis Donovan served with 48 (Royal Marine) Commando and was part of a force that landed at Juno Beach on June 6 1944.
None of them had helmets, only their green berets.
The commando landed alongside the Canadian North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
A spokesman for the Canadian Juno Beach Centre Museum said: “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of British veteran Dennis Donovan.
“The museum team sends their sincere condolences.”
The Ministry of Defence estimates that about 70 to 80 D-Day veterans are still alive.
A Royal Marines History page about him states: “Dennis arrived at 8.30am with the Canadian North Shore Regiment who had not yet secured the beach – 48’s battle started close to shore before even reaching the sands, they battled their way off the exposed beach against concentrated fire through St Aubin-sur-Mer and on to Langrune-sur-Mer suffering 25 per cent casualties.
“On June 7 they fought strongpoint to strongpoint in Langrune and lost many more men.
“They then fought their way to Sallenelles via Drouvres–La-Déliverande and Pegasus Bridge; they stayed in this area for about three months in slit trenches before breaking out.
“Dennis returned to the UK for signals training. When he returned the unit had already been through Operation Infatuate, the liberation of Walcheren and a lot of familiar faces were missing.
“The unit then operated on the river Meuse/Maas fighting the Germans in the wetlands and rivers of the Bieschbosh until the end of the war.
“He celebrated his 21st birthday here.
“After the surrender they were sent to Minden in Germany to clear an area for the Royal Navy HQ and from there they moved into the German countryside to protect farms and farmers and their families from being attacked by displaced persons.”
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