D-Day Veteran Cecil Newton Dies at Age 101

One of the last living veterans of the D-Day landings in 1944, Cecil Newton, has died at the age of 101. His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday at his home in Aldbourne, Wiltshire.

Cecil Newton served in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards during World War II. At the age of 20, he boarded a landing craft at Lepe Beach in the New Forest. His amphibious Sherman Tank was one of the first to land on Gold Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944, during the D-Day invasion.

His mission that day was to destroy a German block-house defending the beach. But just minutes after landing, his tank got stuck in a water-filled shell hole and sank. Fortunately, all members of the crew managed to escape unharmed.

Later, Cecil and his unit were among the first British troops to enter the city of Lille in France.

In November 1944, Cecil was seriously wounded when his tank came under attack in a German village. He suffered a severe leg injury and was shot three times as he tried to exit the tank. He survived, but the injuries marked a turning point in his wartime experience.

In June 2024, Mr. Newton returned to France to join the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. He visited a French school named in his honor, and went to several sites where his fellow soldiers had died in battle.

His son, Paul Newton, shared the news of his father’s passing with friends and supporters. He said:

“Thank you all for your friendship for my father and for supporting his efforts to remember those of the 4/7 RDG who did not come back.”

Cecil Newton will be remembered as a brave soldier who risked everything during one of the most important battles in modern history.