Roy Maxwell was born in Rhyl, North Wales, on 21 February 1922 and was brought up on his grandfather's farm. He married Tegwedd and they had a daughter Jane. In 1976 Jane had Roy’s granddaughter Bianca in Iran, and Roy and Tegwedd travelled out to spend a month with them.
Ever since he was a young boy, Roy wanted to be in the army, and aged 17 he joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers moving two years later to No4 Commando. As part of No4 Commando, he landed on Sword Beach on D-Day in 1944.
After the war, Roy had a series of jobs working with his brother-in-law in construction, a garage, a department store and a builders' merchants. When the builders' merchants was sold to Jewson’s, Roy stayed with them until he retired.
In later years when Tegwedd’s health did not allow her to travel, Roy enjoyed many holidays with his cousin in Spain and when he was 87 he made his first trip to Australia, travelling on his own to see an army buddy from No4 Commando - a trip he made every year until he was 97.
Jane Daneshfar-Nia, Roy Maxwell’s daughter, said: "Sadly Dad passed away after a nine-week struggle, during which he put up a phenomenal fight to try and get back on his feet and back home. He is now free of pain and is at peace. Thank you to everyone who has supported us through these difficult weeks. Bianca and I will be forever grateful for his love and support and will miss him more than words can say."
Bianca Daneshfar-Nia, Roy Maxwell’s granddaughter, said: "I have always been so immensely proud of Grandad. He is loved by so many, and was a true gentleman, a man of integrity and a wonderful father and grandfather. He loved to travel, and we greatly appreciate all of the support from the Taxi Charity that allowed him to have such fantastic experiences in his later years."
Brian Heffernan, Chairman of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: "Everyone loved Roy. He joined us on many trips of commemoration to the Netherlands and Normandy and he was known for his charming and polite nature. He had a wonderful smile and always had time to talk to people. We will never forget the sacrifice he and his fellow WWII veterans made for our freedom. Stand down, Sir. Your duty is done."
