Richard Aldred

Richard Aldred, born in April 1924, served during World War II as a Cromwell tank driver with the British Army’s 7th Armoured Division. At just 20 years old, he participated in the Battle of Normandy, helping to liberate towns across France, including Bourneville, where he and his tank crew played a vital role in freeing the community from German occupation.

Eighty years later, in June 2024, Richard traveled from his home in Callington, Cornwall, to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. There, he met King Charles III at a ceremony held at the BritishNormandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer. The two shared a warm moment of laughter, with Richard recalling, “He was a bloke you would be happy to have breakfast with and a laugh.” In August, he returned to Bourneville on a personal pilgrimage. To his surprise, he was named a Freeman of the Town in recognition of his role in its liberation. Honored but humble, Richard insisted he was not a hero: “I just did my duty because you don't let your mates down.”

At 100 years old, Richard continues to reflect on the war with clarity, grace, and modesty and hopes to return to Normandy again, health permitting.