World War II veteran Henry Rice, who served in the Royal Navy during the Normandy landings, has died at the age of 100.
Mr Rice, of Cranleigh, Surrey, was a “great character with a cheeky smile” and will be “greatly missed by all”, the Spirit of Normandy Trust said in a statement announcing his death. The charity added: “Henry was committed to remembering those who were sent to war and never returned.”
A life dedicated to remembrance
The Veterans’ Foundation also paid tribute, saying Mr Rice “dedicated much of his later life to remembrance, ensuring the sacrifices of those who served would never be forgotten”.
Mr Rice was a signaller aboard HMS Eastway, a ship that carried Allied troops and equipment to the beaches of Normandy in 1944. He arrived off Juno Beach five days after D-Day, when troops from the UK, France, the US and Canada launched an invasion against German forces in Nazi-occupied France.
He received the Legion d’Honneur order of merit from the French government for his service.
Visits to France and teaching children
In June, Mr Rice travelled to France with a group of veterans for the most recent service marking the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. He spoke to French schoolchildren about his wartime memories alongside fellow Normandy veteran Ken Hay, who died last month aged 101.
Speaking to the Press Association in 2024, Mr Rice said teaching children about the Second World War was important given that the “world is dangerous at the moment”. He told PA: “I think it’s important, this world is dangerous at the moment, if those children grow up into adults and know what this is all about, collectively they can go to politicians, Russians can go to Putin and say ‘Oi, we’ve had all this before. We don’t want it. Stop it, please’.”
“Whether the bigwigs will listen to us is another matter, but I really believe that if the population generally made their feelings known, I don’t mean going up and down the street screaming rubbish, the politicians may listen.”
Service and later life
Mr Rice served in the Mediterranean and was then sent to the Far East following the Normandy landings. After the war, he worked on cruise ships before leaving his work at sea to join the local fire service.
The Spirit of Normandy Trust said Mr Rice attended many remembrance events in the UK and France, including at the planting of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, where he handed the Queen the last poppy to be placed to mark VE Day 80.
“Henry always represented the veterans with dignity, particularly when asked to lay a wreath on behalf of his colleagues or to recite the Exhortation or Kohima Epitaph,” the charity said. “Henry was a great character, with a cheeky smile that endeared him to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed by all and we offer his family our most sincere condolences.”
