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Britain’s oldest World War II veteran, Donald Rose, has died at the age of 110.
WW2 veteran Donald Rose, 110, poses for a photo at the National Memorial Arboretum. (AP file photo)
Donald Rose, Britain’s oldest World War II veteran, has died at the age of 110. Rose took part in the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 and was a member of the division that helped liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany.
James Dawson, leader of Erewash Borough Council in northern England, announced Rose’s death on Friday, describing him as a “war hero.” He added, “Erewash was privileged to count him as a resident.”
In May, Rose was among 45 veterans honoured at a tea party hosted by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum. The event marked 80 years since Victory in Europe Day.
Born on Christmas Eve 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Rose told the gathering that he did not celebrate VE Day at the time. “When I heard that the armistice had been signed 80 years ago, I was in Germany at Belsen and, like most active soldiers, I didn’t get to celebrate at that time,” he said. “We just did what we thought was right and it was a relief when it was over.”
Rose was originally from Westcott, a village southwest of London. He joined the army aged 23 and served in North Africa, Italy and France, according to the Royal British Legion. During his service, he received several medals and was awarded France’s highest honour, the Legion d’Honneur.
He is also believed to have been the oldest man in the UK at the time of his death.
(With inputs from AP)
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