LONDON — George Chandler, a D-Day veteran who spent his life sharing the harsh realities of the landings, has passed away at the age of 99, as confirmed by his family. As a young Royal Navy gunner, Chandler played a crucial role in escorting U.S. troops to the beaches of northern France during the historic invasion that began on June 6, 1944. His passing marks the loss of one of the fewer remaining veterans of that pivotal moment in history.

Last summer, Chandler was part of a gathering commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, joining fellow survivors in reflecting on their experiences. As he recounted the events, Chandler felt it was important to portray an authentic picture of war, distinct from the often glamorized narratives depicted in many history books. During an event at Southwick House, the Allied headquarters during the Normandy campaign, he expressed his frustration with these representations, stating, “Let me assure you, what you read in those silly books that have been written about D-Day are absolute crap. It’s a load of old rubbish. I was there, how can I forget it?”

Chandler’s torpedo boat was part of a convoy that escorted U.S. Army soldiers to Omaha and Utah beaches. He vividly remembered witnessing the chaos as the morning sun illuminated an expansive fleet of ships while aircraft ascended overhead. However, a navigation miscalculation resulted in the troops landing too far to the west, which led to tragedy as many brave soldiers faced heavy gunfire upon arrival.

Reflecting on that fateful day, Chandler lamented the loss of young American Rangers, recalling, “It’s a very sad memory because I watched young American Rangers get shot, slaughtered — and they were young. I was 19 at the time. These kids were younger than me.” His recollections serve as a stark reminder of the brutal reality soldiers faced during the invasion.

After three months of duty in the English Channel, Chandler’s torpedo boat was redirected to the Adriatic Sea, where it tragically struck a mine and sank on April 10, 1945, resulting in the death of 19 out of 31 crew members. In honor of his fallen comrades, Chandler’s family plans to scatter some of his ashes in the Adriatic. He passed away due to pneumonia on October 19, as noted by his son, Paul.

In the years following his military service, Chandler embarked on a long-term career with the General Post Office and British Telecommunications. However, he later lost his sight. Despite this, he remained committed to honoring the sacrifices of war veterans. He was set to lead the Blind Veterans UK contingent during the upcoming Remembrance Sunday ceremonies in London, an event he had planned to attend alongside his granddaughters, Lucy Tucknott and Faye West. In his absence, the two women intend to march in his stead, standing alongside thousands of veterans past the Cenotaph, Britain’s national war memorial, to pay tribute to those who served.