Britain’s oldest Second World War veteran, also believed to be Britain’s oldest man, Donald Rose, has passed away aged 110.
The D-Day veteran was born on Christmas Eve in 1914, the same year that Britain saw the outbreak of the First World War, and was just 25 when he signed up to fight on the front line in the Second World War.
A former sniper and Desert Rat, Mr Rose also served with the Queen’s Royal Regiment and was awarded a number of medals during his service including France’s highest medal, the Legion D’Honneur.
His death was confirmed by Erewash Borough Council in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, yesterday and council leader James Dawson paid tribute to him as a ‘war hero’.
Mr Dawson said: ‘Our condolences go out to Donald’s family and all who knew him.
‘Erewash was privileged to count him as a resident.’
Mr Rose, who lived in a care home from 2020, had one grandchild and three great-grandchildren.
