Key facts
- Henry Rice, a World War II veteran and Royal Navy signalman, died at 100.
- He served on HMS Eastway, ferrying troops and equipment to the Normandy beaches.
- Rice arrived at Juno Beach five days after D-Day.
- He was awarded the French Legion of Honour for his service.
- Rice dedicated much of his later life to remembrance events.
- He spoke to French schoolchildren about the importance of remembering the war.
Henry Rice, a World War II veteran who served in the Royal Navy during the D-Day landings, has died at the age of 100. Rice, from Cranleigh, Surrey, was remembered by the Spirit of Normandy Trust as a "great character with a cheeky smile" who will be "greatly missed by all."
The charity stated that Rice was "committed to remembering those who were sent to war and never returned." The Veterans' Foundation echoed this sentiment, noting that he "dedicated much of his later life to remembrance, ensuring the sacrifices of those who served would never be forgotten."
Rice served as a signaller aboard HMS Eastway, a vessel that transported Allied troops and equipment to the Normandy beaches in 1944. He arrived at Juno Beach five days after the initial D-Day invasion. For his service, he received the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest order of merit.
In June, Rice traveled to France with other veterans for the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. He shared his wartime memories with French schoolchildren alongside fellow Normandy veteran Ken Hay, who passed away last month at the age of 101. Rice told the Press Association in 2024 that teaching children about the Second World War was important given the current global climate, expressing a hope that collective understanding could influence politicians.
After serving in the Mediterranean and the Far East, Rice worked on cruise ships before joining the local fire service. He was among the first responders to a gas explosion at a pub in Guildford in 1974, which was later revealed to be an IRA attack. The Spirit of Normandy Trust also noted Rice's participation in numerous remembrance events in the UK and France, including handing the last ceramic poppy to the Queen at the Tower of London for VE Day 80.