D-Day 80: Basildon veteran Don given police escort to event

A police car and motorbike turned up at the 104-year-old’s home in Methersgate, Basildon, this morning, to escort the great-grandad to an 80th anniversary D-Day event at the Living War Memorial, in Rettendon.

Police got in touch with Don, via the Echo, to offer the personal service after reading about Don’s bravery while serving in the D-Day landings as a young sapper in the Royal Engineers.

Escort - Essex Police guide 104-year-old Don (Image: Essex Police)

Don and his wife, Sandra, as well as daughter Jo and his many grandchildren were overwhelmed by the kind gesture.

Jo said: “When we got the call dad couldn’t believe they wanted to do that for him.”

Despite being offered a ride in the cop car, Don, however, preferred to ride to the ceremony in his grandson Sam’s car.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a police car before- I don’t think I have, I can’t really remember,” joked Don.

“But I always go with Sam whenever we go out and I feel safe with him driving. It will be wonderful to have the police escort, though. People might think I’ve done something wrong!”

Neighbours of Don’s came out onto their driveways to wave him off as he made his way to the D-Day 80 ceremony.

Ready to go - Don and Essex Police officers outside his home this morning (Image: Essex Police)

Inspector Steve Parry said: “This is the least we could do for our D-Day hero, Don, and we’re so honoured to have been part of his special day. It was our privilege to spend time with him and his family today.

“The actions and the sacrifice of Don, and those from his generation, should never be forgotten. He is a remarkable man, and his family is rightly extremely proud of him.

“I truly hope this small token of our appreciation for his service shows how proud Essex Police are of Don and it was a pleasure to have been part of his day.”

Soldier - Don pictured during the war (Image: Don Sheppard)

Since the end of the war, reluctant hero Don has devoted his life to ensuring those who didn’t make it back from France are never forgotten.

Don, who also served at Arnhem and helped to liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, landed on Juno beach on June 6, 1944.

“We had to get through 20 to 30 yards of water,” he recalled. “The landing craft was a car with an officer and a driver aboard.

“They didn’t know there was a shell hole directly underneath and they disappeared under the water. Bodies were everywhere.

“The noise is something I won’t ever forget.”