D-day veterans take trip on royal marine offshore raiding crafts

By Claire Hayhurst, Press Association

D-Day veterans have watched a display by serving Royal Marines and taken a trip on modern-day offshore raiding crafts.

The group, including some former commandos, placed red life jackets over their suits and medals before climbing aboard.

They were taken on a trip around Poole Harbour, where the Royal British Legion's cruise ship MV Boudicca docked on Tuesday morning.

Doris Hepburn and Denis Hepburn (right) sit inside a Royal Marine Jackal vehicle after disembarking the MV Bouddica at Poole, on the third day of a trip arranged by the Royal British Legion for D-Day veterans to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday June 4, 2019. The Royal British Legion chartered the MV Boudicca to take hundreds of D-Day veterans on a six day voyage to the Normandy beaches and D-Day commemorative events in the UK and France. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Some 250 Second World War heroes are taking part in the week-long voyage to commemorate 75 years since D-Day.

Schoolchildren and wellwishers waved flags to greet the veterans, aged 91 to 101, as they walked down the gang plank.

Jack Mortimer, 95, spoke to the primary school pupils about his war experiences before they taught him the Baby Shark dance.

He said he was a despatch driver taking a jeep of ammunition and mortars on D-Day.

"After that I can't tell you what happened, I get so emotional about it," he said.

Mr Mortimer, from Leeds, served with 12th Ordnance Beach Detachment on D-Day.

Asked about speaking to the schoolchildren at Poole Harbour, he replied: "I can't get the words out. It's been brilliant, delightful, absolutely tremendous."

Veteran Trevor Stacy speaks to members of the Royal Marines after arriving into Poole on the MV Boudicca. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday June 4, 2019. The Royal British Legion chartered the MV Boudicca to take hundreds of D-Day veterans on a six day voyage to the Normandy beaches and D-Day commemorative events in the UK and France. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

George Winter, from Reading, was a quartermaster with the Royal Navy on D-Day, serving on HMS Harrier.

He described the welcome at Poole as "absolutely wonderful".

"We were mine-sweeping the beaches clear of sea mines," Mr Winter said. "We led the way across the ocean so the men could get ashore without getting blown up.

"We were there on June 5, with the boys landing on June 6. As dawn came, we had to get out of the way so they could get to shore."

Mr Winter, who has five great-grandchildren, said he was "18 years, one month and three days old on D-Day".

The veterans will attend the national commemorative event in Portsmouth on Wednesday before travelling to Normandy for events in Bayeux and Arromanches.

The ship returns to Portsmouth on Saturday before concluding its journey in Dover on Sunday.

Pic by Andrew Matthews/PA Wire