ONE of the dwindling band of D-Day veterans who stormed the Normandy beaches, has died four days before his 96th birthday.

Colin Crawford, who lived in Teignmouth, was in the Guards armoured division that landed on Gold Beach on June 6, 1944. There were about 1,000 casualties on the British side, with 350 killed.

His regiment advanced towards Caen after the Normandy landings, and the city was only taken after days of heavy shelling and bombing.

They advanced through Belgium and Holland, taking part in the ill-fated Arnhem operation. He was demobbed in 1947.

Born in Plymouth, which was heavily bombed in the war, he was sent away from the blitz to stay in relative relative safety with relatives in Teignmouth and Shaldon. He joined the army in April 1943.

During his time in Teignmouth he worked for Stents grocery store in Bank Street.

After the war Colin became a long distance lorry driver for British Road Services, and then became store keeper at Centrax in Newton Abbot.

After retirement he worked as the caretaker at Bitton House, the home of the town council.

He is survived by his wife Jenny, who is 93. They wed in Mountain Ash in Wales, and were married for over 71 years.

His son-in-law Geoff Webber, said: ‘He never really talked about his wartime experiences. On the anniversary of D-Day I asked him about it, and he told me he saw some horrible things, such as liberating a prisoner of war camp, that he did not want to elaborate on.

‘He was a wonderful man and will be missed by all his family and friends.’

The couple have two children, Moira who lives in Teignmouth, and Phillip, who resides in Australia.

There are seven great grandchildren, five living locally, and two in Australia. and six grandchildren.

His funeral took place at Torquay Crematorium yesterday (Friday).