Burgess Hill D-Day veteran dies before Remembrance Sunday

George Chandler, from Burgess Hill, joined the armed forces at the age of 19, serving with the 59th flotilla on June 6, 1944, to escort the US army assault on Omaha and Utah beaches as a torpedo boat gunner.

For about three months without a break, Mr Chandler’s flotilla returned to Newhaven each night for refuelling and rearming and a few hours of sleep before returning across the Channel.

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Mr Chandler said: “Let me assure you, what you read in those silly books that have been written about D-Day are absolute crap, it’s a load of old rubbish.

“I was there, how can I forget it? It’s a very sad memory because I watched young American Rangers, not shot, slaughtered.”

Following the Normandy campaign, Mr Chandler’s boat was deployed to the Mediterranean, where it sank in April 1945.

Mr Chandler joined the war effort at the age of 19 (Image: Handout/Blind Veterans UK/PA Wire) He said: “I think the saddest thing that happened during my naval career was when we were sunk. We hit a mine and it blew the bows off the boat. Nineteen of the 31 crew on board were killed.

“The oldest man on the ship was 29. I can see him now, standing there saying, ‘Don’t panic lads, we’ll all get out’. I never saw him again.

READ MORE: ‘What you read in books about D-Day is rubbish’: Veteran's tragic memories of the war

“The saddest thing about it was that his wife had given birth to a little girl three weeks beforehand in England. He never ever saw her.

“I look back and I think about the 19 good shipmates of mine who now lie at the bottom of the Adriatic sea. They went down with the boat when it hit the mine.

“There’s still lots of people who think there’s fun in war. There’s no fun in war. No fun in war at all.”

Mr Chandler after a service commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire) After the war, Mr Chandler worked for the General Post Office and then BT, before retiring in the 1980s. He was a keen golfer and an honorary life member of Haywards Heath Golf Club.

Later in life, Mr Chandler lost his sight and was supported by the Blind Veterans UK charity.

He was set to lead the Blind Veterans UK contingent at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday, alongside granddaughters Lucy Tucknott, 31, and Faye West, 28, who have been invited to march in his memory.

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A spokesman for Blind Veterans UK said: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to George’s son Paul and all his family and friends.

“George was the guest of honour at our special D-Day anniversary dinner in June this year, 80 years after the invasion of Normandy.

“He shared with us his poignant memories from the historic day and everyone in the room was gripped by his stories.

“George was a larger-than-life figure that brought so much joy to all of those who met him.

“We are proud to have been able to support him as he adapted to life with sight loss.”

A private family funeral has been planned.