D-Day Naval veteran, Les Underwood, 98, died on Thursday 5 September.
On D-Day in June 1944, 18-year-old Les Underwood was on a merchant ship destined for Russia which was diverted to the coast of Normandy. At the time, he had no idea where it was going to, as the captain did not share the destination with any of the crew.
In June 2024, Les joined a group of veterans who travelled to Normandy with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
During the week in Normandy, Les spoke of his memories of D-Day, telling the charity volunteers: “We handed our supplies over and joined in the chaotic scene. Men were going down the ropes over the sides of landing craft into what they assumed was shallow water and it was deep and they went straight down because of the weight of their kit. There was noise, shouting, gunfire and utter madness.”
Les did not know until years later that he had been at D-Day as he was never told at the time. Decades later he was traced and found out the magnitude of what he had been part of.
Les was married to Ellen Underwood for over 50 years and lived with her in Rush Green. They had a daughter Victoria and a son Paul. They had three grandchildren, Matthew, Adam and Tom, and five great grandchildren, Archie, Oscar, Ellen, Amelie and Jessica.
Tom Broughton, Les Underwood’s grandson, said: “During his life, Les was a boxer, a sailor in the merchant and Royal Navy, a black taxi driver, a lorry driver, a bus driver and finally a British Telecom engineer. On behalf of my grandad’s family, I’d like to thank everyone at the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans for all of their help, support and kindness over the years. We are very grateful to all the volunteers and the drivers who looked after Les on the many different trips, which he absolutely loved, and it was fitting that his last journey with the charity was to the beaches in Normandy earlier in the year. We wish the charity all the best in the future and every success.”
Paul Cook, London cab driver and Vice Chairman of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: “We heard the sad news about Les while we were away in the Netherlands with a group of veterans. Les was always great company and full of amazing stories. My fondest memory however is when we were just about to go on live TV and the makeup girl said, "Les I’m going to put some makeup on you" and quick as a flash he said, "No you’re not!" and refused any touch ups. When I think of this, I always smile. Les was one of our country’s heroes and he will be greatly missed.”
Keely Allen, a Taxi Charity volunteer who helped care for Les on trips to Normandy and the Netherlands, said: “Les told me that when he was a youngster, he was always getting in trouble or fighting, and his mum shipped him off to the Navy to straighten him out. However, he soon found himself in a fight with a fellow Navy man but the officer was so impressed with his fighting technique that he asked him to join the Navy boxing team. He proudly told me that he fought anywhere and often won. When I was going through my toughest of times, Les was the first person (outside of my family) to phone me. He was the absolute sweetest gentleman ever. On one call, he said he was now my grandad and if I ever wanted to go over to his home for a cup of tea and a cry, I was always welcome. I’d try to pop in when I could; his smile could light up a room, and when he hugged you, he really hugged you.”
Taxi Charity ambassador, Johnny Gallagher, said: “I am honoured to have been able to call Les a friend. He was truly one of a kind; the bravest, most straight talking and honest man I have ever met. He had a wonderful character - the epitome of the men and women from the greatest generation - and he will be greatly missed.”