Tribute to a veteran of D-Day who loved Tralee

FRED Ardley of Littlehampton and Caterham, Surrey, was laid to rest in Rath Cemetery on Tuesday October 15, 2019.

Mr Ardley was born on the February 29, 1924, in London. On leaving school he worked initially in W.H. Smiths paper stall in Littlehampton Station. On reaching his 18th birthday he joined the Royal Navy in 1942, and was sent to the USA to train on a landing craft.

After sailing back across The Atlantic he took part in the landings in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he and his shipmates made six trips across the channel, landing on Swords Beach, having survived an attack by a German bomber.

After the war Fred worked in a hotel in London, and it was there that he met Eileen Thompson of 20 O’Rahilly’s Villas, Tralee. Eileen and her younger sister Josephine, whose family was one of Tralee’s old stock, had emigrated in 1952. Romance blossomed and Fred and Eileen married on July 2, 1955. They had four children, three boys, and, one girl. Fred developed a great love for Tralee and Kerry in the subsequent years and both himself and Eileen, along with their family, returned each summer to visit Eileen’s parents and siblings.

He considered himself to be an honorary Kerryman and he loved to walk the canal bank and head up to Clahane to visit Scotia’s grave, along with trips to Fenit and Wethers Well, Tubrid Ardfert.

When Eileen was diagnosed with cancer he cared for her devotedly, even though his own health was poor at that particular time. When she died in 2006 he carried out her last wish which was to bring her home and bury her in Rath Cemetery with her family.

Fred passed peacefully on September 28, 2019, aged 95, and was laid to rest with his beloved Eileen in Rath.

He will be sadly missed by his daughter, sons, grandchildren, son in law, daughters in law, his nephews nieces and friends. May his gentle soul rest in peace.