Henry Rice, a Royal Navy veteran who took part in the Normandy landings during World War II, has died at the age of 100. Rice, who lived in Cranleigh, Surrey, served as a signaller aboard HMS Eastway, a vessel responsible for transporting Allied troops and equipment to the beaches of Normandy in 1944.

Rice arrived off Juno Beach five days after D-Day, the massive Allied invasion launched by forces from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and Canada against German-occupied France. In recognition of his wartime service, he was awarded the Légion d’honneur by the French government.

The Spirit of Normandy Trust described Rice as a “great character with a cheeky smile” and said he would be “greatly missed by all.” The Veterans’ Foundation highlighted his lifelong commitment to remembrance, noting that he worked to ensure the sacrifices of those who served in the war would not be forgotten.

In June 2024, Rice traveled to France with a group of fellow veterans to take part in a ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. During the visit, he spoke with French schoolchildren about his experiences in the war, alongside Ken Hay, another Normandy veteran who died last month at the age of 101.

In an interview earlier this year, Rice emphasized the importance of educating younger generations about the history of World War II, given current global uncertainties. He expressed hope that understanding the past might encourage future leaders and citizens around the world to avoid repeating the mistakes that led to conflict. “If those children grow up into adults and know what this is all about, collectively they can go to politicians, Russians can go to Putin and say: ‘Oi, we’ve had all this before. We don’t want it. Stop it, please,’” he said.