One of the last surviving veterans from the D-Day landings, has died at the age of 99.

Roy Hayward was born in April 1925, and lived with his parents and sister in Molesey, Surrey. Admitting he wasn’t academic at school, he loved sport, particularly rugby and cricket.

At the age of 16 he started working at the Westminster Bank, in Covent Garden, and in early 1943 he volunteered for the British Army just before his 18th birthday.

A reserve tank crew, Roy landed in France on the evening of D-Day, with the Sherwood Rangers. His tank was hit by a shell and immediately started to burn. He managed to push a fellow crew member out and, despite horrific injuries, climbed out and got clear before it was engulfed in flames. Three weeks later, both of his legs had to be amputated. He was just 19 years old.

After learning to walk again, he returned to work at the bank and commuted into central London by bicycle, train and on foot. While there he met and married Barbara in 1948. After he retired at the age of 47, the couple moved to Seaview. They were both involved in Island life through Ryde Lions, Cancer Research and the local bowls club. Roy served as both treasurer and then chairman of the Island branch of Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, for many years.

After Barbara died from a stroke in 2013, Roy lived alone, teaching himself to cook and do the housework.

He was awarded France’s highest military honour, the Legion d’Honneur, in 2016, and in 2022 he was honoured locally on Remembrance Sunday and given the Freedom of the Parish of Nettlestone & Seaview. This summer he played a central role in the D-Day commemorations, where he was celebrated as a national hero and was personally thanked by King Charles and Queen Camilla for his service and sacrifice.

His family say he died ‘peacefully’ at St Mary’s Hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning (December 15), and they will shortly announce plans to celebrate Roy’s life.