Heroes who nearly died will salute fallen friends

TWO D-day veterans who cheated death will remember their fallen comrades when they return to Normandy for this week’s emotional commemorations.

Royal Navy veteran Stan Ford, who turned 99 on May 7, recalled being thrown from his ship after an explosion that killed 31 people just weeks after D-day.

He served on HMS Fratton, which escorted ships taking people back to the UK and suffered lifelong injuries when his vessel was sunk by a midget submarine off Normandy.thirty-eight crew members were rescued but 31 died.

Mr Ford, from Bath, recalls a “terrific explosion”. “The explosion detached the gun platform I was on, and the gun platform and myself went over the side,” he said. “It was a heavy piece of metal. I came to in the water. I was saved and I often ask the Lord why me, when we lost 31 of the crew.”

Mr Ford has walked with leg callipers ever since after his spine was fractured due to the force of the blast.

The veteran said he will travel to the commemorations with the Spirit of Normandy Trust, insisting he “wouldn’t miss it for the world”.

He added: “There are 31 names on one single pillar and I shall be picking out names, my friends, on that pillar. I shall remember each and every one of them, and I honour them.” Speaking of serving in the war, the great-grandfather said: “To take part was a necessary evil. It had to be done”.

Fellow veteran Richard Aldred, who also plans to go to the area with the Spirit of Normandy Trust, added: “I guarantee you I will shed a tear.”

The 99-year-old counts himself “lucky” as he reflected on his experiences as a tank driver in the 7th Armoured Division of the Royal Tank Regiment.

Mr Aldred, from Cornwall, was driving a Cromwell tank when it was blown up in Bourneville, east of Le Havre. “God, I was bloody lucky,” he said. “I remember this terrible thump and we came to a direct halt and we all got out, very luckily.”

Mr Aldred said the crew had just eight seconds to flee the tank before they faced being “burned alive”.

“I was lucky. No doubt about it. Lucky, I wasn’t killed. I later had to bury two mates.awful, awful.

“It’s only when you go to Normandy among all those crosses... If you don’t cry, there’s something wrong with you.

“When I go to Normandy, I’ll guarantee to you I will shed a tear.

“Can’t help it, I’m sorry.”

‘I was saved and I often ask the Lord why me, when we lost 31 of the crew in that huge explosion’ NAVY HERO STAN FORD