!['I was always thinking, ‘if I am going to get it, please let it be quick'...I never expected to survive... I feel very lucky'](https://cdn.magzter.com/1583504377/1717633675/articles/PfeiIHnwk1717649146558/I-WAS-ALWAYS-THINKING-IF-I-AM-GOING-TO-GET-IT-PLEASE-LET-IT-BE-QUICKI-NEVER-EXPECTED-TO-SURVIVE-I-FEEL-VERY-LUCKY.jpg)
John is one of the last men left and one of Britain's oldest D-Day veterans.
The highly-decorated Normandy braveheart marked the momentous milestone by paying his own solemn tribute to the 22,442 comrades who gave their lives in the mighty battle for freedom.
John was 23 and serving with the Reconnaissance Corps when he washed ashore amid the scenes of pandemonium and slaughter which have left an indelible and lifelong mark.
Eight decades after their finest hour, John held his own two-minute silence to honour those who perished during the greatest air, sea and land operation in military history.
Head bowed, he said: "I feel very lucky. I was always thinking, 'If I am going to get it, please let it be quick'. I was thinking about it all the time, constantly.
"I never expected to survive it - and I never expected to live so long." John, from Chessington, Surrey, was too frail to travel to Normandy for today's commemorations on the fabled beaches of Northern France.
But honouring those who served and fell was so important to him, he wanted to don his regimental beret, blazer and medals to lead his own eulogy at home.
Operation Overlord was the largest and most complex operation by the Western Allies of the Second World War.
An enormous force was assembled to storm the heavily-fortified Normandy coast - known as the Atlantic Wall - as part of an audacious assault to blast Nazi-held France and Europe.
D-Day, the first stage of the invasion, saw 156,000 soldiers, 7,000 ships and 11,000 aircraft launch a raid on five beaches codenamed Gold, Sword, Juno, Omaha and Utah.
This story is from the June 06, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 06, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Strong bond at heart of Swiss bliss](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/PMMVMA_pn1720157930046/STRONG-BOND-AT-HEART-OF-SWISS-BLISS.jpg)
Strong bond at heart of Swiss bliss
ZUBER LAUDS LASTING UNITY
![RON OF A KIND](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/VZ6NqSmGO1720157836854/RON-OF-A-KIND.jpg)
RON OF A KIND
Mbappe hoping to end hero Cristiano's Euro title dream
![REDS OF HEAVEN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/0aqWkv4cA1720157719894/REDS-OF-HEAVEN.jpg)
REDS OF HEAVEN
Coleman's Wales live the dream
![RALLYING CRY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/ZvJcXvSDA1720157617639/RALLYING-CRY.jpg)
RALLYING CRY
Dart goes from tears to cheers to stun Boulter
!['You'll soon find out who my boys are'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/1fCIK18jJ1720157486735/YOULL-SOON-FIND-OUT-WHO-MY-BOYS-ARE.jpg)
'You'll soon find out who my boys are'
JAMIE WARNS ALL BLACKS
![O'BRIEN LAUDS 'MATURE' TROY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/ywBLwgIPe1720157405807/OBRIEN-LAUDS-MATURE-TROY.jpg)
O'BRIEN LAUDS 'MATURE' TROY
CITY OF TROY has \"grown up and matured\" since his Betfred Derby triumph as he tackles older opposition for the first time in tomorrow's CoralEclipse at Sandown.
![Exec branded an 'old fossil' aged 58 wins £3m payout](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/TgJYUIMX31720157299824/EXEC-BRANDED-AN-OLD-FOSSIL-AGED-58-WINS-3M-PAYOUT.jpg)
Exec branded an 'old fossil' aged 58 wins £3m payout
A MAN told by his younger boss he was an \"old fossil\" who \"did not know how to manage millennials\" has won more than £3million in an age discrimination case.
![Cardiac arrest patients face agonising 9-minute wait for a defibrillator](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/LB4kDsmYI1720157178896/CARDIAC-ARREST-PATIENTS-FACE-AGONISING-9MINUTE-WAIT-FOR-A-DEFIBRILLATOR.jpg)
Cardiac arrest patients face agonising 9-minute wait for a defibrillator
Postcode lottery over access to vital equipment
!['I just wanted to shout: I've met my daughter'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/XBLwhuk8u1720157046152/I-JUST-WANTED-TO-SHOUT-IVE-MET-MY-DAUGHTER.jpg)
'I just wanted to shout: I've met my daughter'
Mum’s joy six decades after being forced to give up child
![Sex predator teacher given six years in jail](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1755405/_jSYNbBOL1720156928329/SEX-PREDATOR-TEACHER-GIVEN-SIX-YEARS-IN-JAIL.jpg)
Sex predator teacher given six years in jail
A TEACHER who groomed and had sex with two teenage boys, and became pregnant by one of them, has been jailed after a judge slammed her \"breathtaking arrogance\".