Once a paragon of British military strength as he stormed the beaches of Normandy alongside his fellow brave countrymen, Henry Rice, 98, has now largely been confined to his wheelchair.
The war hero was among the veterans who joined the UK’s oldest armed forces charity, the SSAFA, to begin an 80-day countdown to the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which marked Germany’s surrender and the end of World War II on May 8, 1945.
Mr Rice was pictured on February 17 patriotically brandishing the English flag next to a full-size replica of a Spitfire and enjoying live music from the D-Day Darlings choir group to kick off the commemorations outside the Royal Albert Hall.
He was joined by child evacuee Doreen Simson, 87, and Women’s Royal Naval Service veteran Ruth Barnwell, 100.
May 8 marked the date in 1945 when the Allied powers accepted Germany’s surrender, ending nearly six years of conflict in Europe.
Mr Rice, who served on HMS Eastway, got a kiss from D-Day Darlings founder and lead vocalist Katie Ashby as the countdown got underway.
The 98-year-old also attended a ceremony commemorating 80 years since D-Day, the Allies’ storming of Normandy, last June, where he admitted it was “difficult to stop a few years”.
He described the landmark anniversary as a “special year”, which helps him to “remember more deeply”.
The Soldier’s and Sailor’s Families Association (SSAFA) was established in 1885 by Major James Gildea to help provide for members of the armed forces on active service.
The charity, which celebrated its 140th birthday this month, launched the 80-day countdown to VE Day in South Kensington with the help of war veterans and civilians and a lifesize Spitfire replica.
Other VE Day commemorations will include a pipe marathon, with Pipe Major Lady Jane Macrae leading a group of pipers taking it in turns to play at various different locations around the country on each of the 80 days leading up to May 8.
Community celebrations will also be coordinated by the Together Coalition, a group of people and businesses backed by the Government’s national programme to commemorate VE Day and Victory over Japan Day, marking Japan’s surrender to the Allies on August 15.
