D-Day veteran, 99, dies ahead of Remembrance Sunday

A D-Day veteran who served as a torpedo boat gunner escorting American forces has died at the age of 99.

George Chandler, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex, who lost his sight in later life, was to have led the Blind Veterans UK contingent at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday, alongside his granddaughters Lucy Tucknott, 31, and Faye West, 28.

The charity has invited them to march with them in their grandfather's memory.

Mr Chandler was 19 when he served with the 59th flotilla to escort the US army assault on Omaha and Utah beaches.

Speaking ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, he described some of the horrors of the invasion.

"Due to a navigation error, the Americans were landed a mile and a half too far to the west, and were slaughtered as they came in," he said.

"Half of them didn't have time to get off their assault craft. It was something I wouldn't want anybody to watch. Very brave men.

"I will never forget the sight of seeing those brave young men fighting and dying as they struggled to get off the beach."

For about three months without a break, Mr Chandler's flotilla returned to Newhaven each night for refuelling and rearming and a few hours of sleep before returning across the Channel.

After the Normandy campaign, his boat was deployed to the Mediterranean where it suffered damage before being sunk in April 1945.

After the war Mr Chandler worked for the General Post Office and then BT, before retiring in the 1980s, giving him more time to enjoy his true passion of golf. He was an honorary life member at Haywards Heath Golf Club.

A spokesman for Blind Veterans UK, which supported Mr Chandler, said: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to George's son Paul and all his family and friends.

"George was the guest of honour at our special D-Day anniversary dinner in June this year, 80 years after the invasion of Normandy.

"He shared with us his poignant memories from the historic day and everyone in the room was gripped by his stories.

"George was a larger-than-life figure that brought so much joy to all of those who met him."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.