Haverhill D-Day hero, Bill Gladden, just missed anniversary

Bill Gladden passed away at his home in Haverhill in April, aged 100.

At the age of 20, Mr Gladden was one of many who flew into Normandy on a military glider.

He arrived on a Hamilcar glider carrying a tank and six motorbikes on June 6, 1944.

Mr Gladden moved to an orchard just outside the French village of Ranville, near the strategically important Pegasus Bridge which the 6th Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment was tasked with protecting.

When he was surrounded on June 17, he carried two of his fellow soldiers, who were seriously injured, into a barn that was being used as a medical post.

Two days later he was also hit by machine gun fire from a Panzer tank while he was brewing a tea.

Despite suffering tremendous wounds, Mr Gladden was able to survive and return to England.

Bill Gladden as a young man. Image: PA (Image: PA)

Bill Gladden was lauded as a war hero for his courage and determination. Image: PA (Image: PA)

He was evacuated back to Portsmouth on June 21 and spent three years in hospital due to the severity of the injury, which left him having to learn to walk again.

In June 2022, at the age of 98, Mr Gladden made the journey back to the barn in Normandy where his life was saved.

The trip was arranged by the Taxi Charity for Military veterans, and Mr Gladden travelled to France along with author Neil Barber and photographer Robin Savage.

Speaking at the time, Mr Gladden said: “I have been travelling back to Normandy with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans for many years and this year I was very touched that Neil and Robin had spent time finding the very barn where my life had been saved and where I had last seen my injured friends who didn’t survive.

"The current owners of the barn were so welcoming, and I must admit the visit was very nostalgic and brought so many memories flooding back. I think part of my tibia is probably still in that orchard - perhaps one day someone will stumble across it."

Bill Gladden with daughter Linda Durrant arriving at the surprise party for his 100th birthday in Haverhill. Image: PA (Image: PA)

Photographer Mr Savage said: “The afternoon we spent with Bill taking him back to the barn near Ranville was one of the most special moments I've ever had in Normandy, and I am so pleased we were able to do it for him.

“We thought we might just be able to show him the barn from the outside, but the current owners were so welcoming and invited Bill into the barn and showed us around their home which had been used as a 'Main Dressing Station' during the war."

In January this year, Mr Gladden turned 100, and his family celebrated by organising a surprise party for him.

As people set off party poppers, the veteran, who was brought into the room in a wheelchair, raised his cupped palms to his sides and mouthed “thank you”.

Mr Gladden died at his home in Haverhill in April.