A D-DAY hero unaware he was part of the invasion force until decades later has died aged 98.
Able Seaman Les Underwood was switched from Arctic convoys and sent to France as a gunner on a commandeered ferry, SS Ben-my-Chree.
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At the 80th anniversary in June, Les told The Sun: “The skipper never told us what we were doing or where we were.
“There were guns going everywhere. The Germans firing, we had our ships all firing.
“Men were getting off the ships onto the landing craft. And as they were going in, they thought it was shallow.
“But it was deeper than they thought it was. With the gear they had on a lot of them went straight down.
“There were bodies that had been wounded and killed. It was absolute chaos and for a long time I didn’t even know I’d been there.”
Les, of Romford, Essex, returned to the convoys oblivious to his role.
His September 5 death was announced yesterday by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
Ambassador Johnny Gallagher said: “Les was the bravest, straight-talking and honest man I’ve met.”
“He had a wonderful character, the epitome of the men and women from the greatest generation and he will be greatly missed.”
