D-Day Veteran Marks 100th Birthday with Charity Fundraiser

A D-Day veteran has chosen to dedicate his 100th birthday festivities to collecting funds for the National Memorial Arboretum. Bill Redston, who reached this significant age on Thursday, has resided in Wolverhampton for over six decades following his participation in World War Two. Mr. Redston stated that he was among the initial volunteers at the arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, upon its opening in 2001, and aims to gather a minimum of £1,000 for the Remembrance facility. According to Mr. Redston’s family, the location held deep personal significance for him, and he frequently visited it with both relatives and acquaintances. Personnel at the arboretum commended his “steadfast support” throughout the years, yet expressed surprise at his choice to collect donations for them via his birthday. Maria Howes, representing the centre, commented, “His incredibly generous announcement that he wanted to raise funds for us as part of his 100th birthday celebrations still caught us by surprise.” The centenarian veteran served as a First Lieutenant of Motor Launch 191 within Naval Coastal Forces during the conflict. He enlisted in the Royal Navy at the age of 18 and was originally scheduled to lead US soldiers onto Utah Beach during the D-Day landings. However, the Americans requested their own vessel to spearhead their advance, and Mr. Redston’s crew was consequently assigned the duty of transporting barges across the Channel. It was subsequently discovered that the substitute ship had been destroyed, resulting in numerous casualties among its crew. In 2021, Mr. Redston was awarded the Legion d’honneur for his contributions on D-Day at the National Memorial Arboretum, an occasion he described as “one of the proudest moments of his life.” Upon reaching his 100th birthday, he attributed his longevity to “regular exercise.” He further stated, “I ran the London and New York marathons in my mid-sixties and have tried to stay fit ever since.” He continued, “I was a member of a local cycling club well into my eighties and I still get on my exercise bike or go for a one-mile walk at least four times a week.” For updates from BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country, follow on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.