D-Day veteran dies months after 100th birthday

A veteran of the D-Day landings who recently celebrated his 100th birthday has died.

Lieutenant Richard Willis RN was the second in command on a landing craft tasked with taking US tanks and troops to Utah beach in Normandy as part of Operation Overlord in June 1944.

He was wounded in the leg by shrapnel during the attack, and many years later was awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the French government.

It has been confirmed Lt Willis, from Wellington in Somerset, died in September.

Ted Allen, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, presented Mr Willis with a birthday card on behalf of the King earlier this year at a surprise birthday celebration.

Paying tribute, he said: “This is terribly sad news. I am so pleased we could in some way mark a huge milestone in the life of this remarkable man.

“I will never forget meeting him and his family.”

The celebration took place at the Nynehead Court Care Home in February this year where Lt Willis was a resident.

Speaking afterwards, Lt Willis, who was joined by his family for the surprise, said: “I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve this.

“I was just there. But D-Day was an experience I will never forget.”

The Lieutenancy organised for the veteran to be presented with a D-Day chart of the Utah beach landings, prepared by the UK Hydrographic Office and held in its archives in Taunton.

The chart – once labelled Top Secret – was inscribed: “Presented to Lt Richard Willis… on the occasion of his 100th birthday. With the thanks and admiration of the Lord-Lieutenant and the people of Somerset.”

After leaving the Royal Navy, Lt Willis became a professional artist and his work – particularly in maritime art – achieved high acclaim.

Much of his work was influenced by his wartime experiences and he was the youngest ever exhibitor at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1942.