Aberdeen banker and D-Day veteran dies aged 96

There was a time in 1942 when the outcome of the Second World War hung in the balance.

But Aberdeen’s Eric Johnston was one of the people who made a difference in the conflict. He moved from being a bank employee to winning the Legion d’Honneur and being a pivotal figure during the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.

Aged 20, he decided to become a tank driver and worked as a reconnaissance trooper with the Royal Dragoon Guards.

He became one of the heroic figures instrumental in the preparation and implementation of D-Day, even though he was very critical of the manner in which hundreds of American troops died on their way to Normandy.

After the war Mr Johnston, who has died at the age of 96, worked in banking and he and his wife, Joan, moved all over the world – from Scotland to Palestine.

He recorded his memoirs in a book, which he wrote in his 90s, called Reflections Of A Tank Trooper (Retd).

Keen mountaineer Mr Johnston was the subject of one of 12 portraits, commissioned by Prince Charles, to honour D-Day veterans in 2015.

However, he didn’t regarded himself as special. Indeed, he felt guilt over how his military service had affected his family.

He had said previously: “My mother was very scared when I signed up... I have never forgotten the look of relief on her face when I came home.”

He attended the unveiling of the paintings of veterans at Buckingham Palace with his daughters, Helen and Sheila.

Eric Johnston won the Legion d’Honneur