D-Day veteran who survived capture dies aged 101
Kenneth Hay, a British D-Day veteran who survived capture and a forced march during World War II, has died at the age of 101. Hay was a dedicated ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial and spent his later years educating children about the war.
Why it matters
The passing of WWII veterans marks the loss of a generation of historical witnesses, emphasizing the importance of preserving their personal accounts of the conflict.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Normandy veteran Kenneth Hay was an "extraordinary gentleman", the British Normandy Memorial said
Normandy veteran Kenneth Hay, who survived being captured just weeks after D-Day and spent years educating children about World War Two, has died aged 101.
Hay, from Upminster in east London, served in the 4th Dorset Infantry Regiment. He was captured a month after the allied invasion of northern France and survived a 1,000-mile (1,609km) forced march in eastern Europe until he was liberated by US forces.
His death was announced on Sunday by the British Normandy Memorial, for which he was an ambassador.
The organisation said he was an "extraordinary gentleman whose remarkable life will never be forgotten".
In its statement on social media, the British Normandy Memorial added: "His passion for education was unwavering.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in