The Royal Navy man handed away in hospital after a brief sickness, his household introduced.
John Dennett has died following a brief sickness (Picture: Iain Watts/Liverpool Echo)
One of many final remaining D-Day veterans has died on the age of 101. John Dennett from Wallasey, Wirral, was a Royal Navy anti-aircraft gunner on touchdown ship HMS LST 322, and took half within the big seaborne invasion of France to liberate Europe from the Germany in June, 1944. He additionally took half in Allied landings as a part of Operation Torch in North Africa and the Sicily landings, Salerno, and Anzio. Mr Dennett handed away in hospital on Sunday after a brief sickness, his household introduced.
He signed as much as battle towards the desires of his mom in 1942 when he was 17, and nobody checked his start certificates. John wished to be a part of “what was occurring within the huge world”, he recalled. He added that, whereas his mom didn’t need him to affix up, his father thought it will do him good to serve.
We’re so saddened to listen to the information of the loss of life of 101-year-old @RoyalNavy D-Day Veteran John Dennett. We have been honoured to host John quite a few occasions on the Memorial and his dedication to remembering his fallen comrades was extremely shifting.
His journeys to Normandy have been made… pic.twitter.com/OUKtybcw2c
— British Normandy Memorial (@britishmemorial) March 23, 2026
“So I went off to Bristol and joined the Navy. As a result of I didn’t have my start certificates I added six months to my age to get me over 18.
“It was humorous that no person requested for my start certificates and, trying again, the irony is that if my mum had on condition that to me they’d have turned me away on account of being underage.”
The soccer fan later based native membership Ashville FC, which mentioned his legacy would “reside on in our membership eternally”. It added that Mr Dennett performed an “monumental function” in shaping what the membership grew to become, together with with youth gamers and the senior squad.
Ashville mentioned in a press release: “On behalf of everybody on the membership, we wish to categorical our deepest gratitude for the whole lot he gave over so a few years.”
John attended D-Day commemorations in France (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster)
It added: “His presence, knowledge, and unwavering help will probably be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
Mr Dennett – one among 23 veterans who attended commemorations for D-Day’s eightieth anniversary in 2024 – informed reporters on the time: “At my age now, I’m a bit extra anticipating it to be emotional.”
He added: “We should at all times bear in mind them.”
The British Normandy Memorial mentioned on X: We’re so saddened to listen to the information of the loss of life of 101-year-old @RoyalNavy D-Day Veteran John Dennett.
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“We have been honoured to host John quite a few occasions on the Memorial and his dedication to remembering his fallen comrades was extremely shifting.
“His journeys to Normandy have been made attainable because of our companions, Spirit of Normandy Belief. John additionally took half in motion within the Mediterranean in Operation Torch (North Africa) and Operation Husky (Sicily). Relaxation in Peace, John.”
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