A D-DAY veteran who was awarded France’s most prestigious award is set to be given a guard of honour at his funeral, one day after what would have been his 100th birthday.
Navy and army veteran Harry Howard from Haydock died "peacefully" aged 99 at Heyeswood Retirement Village in Haydock on March 5, where he was one of the first residents and had an active social life.
During the Second World War, Harry was a telegraphist and was 21 when he became part of No. 6 Commando, working in observations, liaising with ships and guiding them to direct their gunfire onto inland enemy targets.
Harry’s medals are the 1939-1945 medal, The France and Germany Star, The Burma Star, Médaille Du Jubilé awarded to Normandy Veterans in Caen in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary of D-Day, and the Légion d’Honneur.
He was awarded the Legion d’honneur in 2021 which recognised his part in D-Day when he landed on Sword Beach, along the Normandy coast, at around 9am on June 6, 1944.
He then made his way with No 6 Commando to Pegasus Bridge, to relieve the airborne glider men, who had captured the bridge in the early hours of D-Day.
This began the liberation of German-occupied north western Europe and laid the foundations of the allied victory on the Western Front.
Harry was demobbed in 1946 and worked as a welder, working at the likes of Neill’s Foundry in Bold after the war.
He leaves behind his two children John and Julie and four grandchildren.
His proud daughter Julie Woodward, 62, also from Haydock, said: “Dad died peacefully at Heyeswood, he loved it there and was one of the first residents to move in in 2009.
“The staff took good care of them and he had good friends there like Geoff.
“We are all so proud of him and will miss him but we hope to do him proud.
“His funeral will take place on Monday, April 3, one day after what would have been his 100th birthday, and we are pleased that the Royal British Legion are coming to do a Guard of Honour for him and sending a bugler to play the Last Post.
“His funeral is open for anyone to attend and will be at Blackbrook St Mary’s Church at 12.30pm and then he will have a committal at Greenacres at 1.30pm.
“It’s going to be really emotional.”
Family flowers only, and any donations are to be made to the Royal British Legion and handed to the family.
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