D-Day Veteran Roy Hayward, Who Lost Legs in Combat, Dies at 99

Roy Hayward, a former tank crew member who sustained the loss of both his legs following his arrival on Gold Beach during the D-Day operations, has passed away at 99 years old. Mr. Hayward transitioned from fundamental military instruction at Bovington Camp in Dorset to participating in the Normandy landings in June 1944 when he was 18. His Sherman tank was assaulted by a German Tiger tank, resulting in the amputation of both his legs below the knee. Earlier this year, Mr. Hayward, a resident of Seaview on the Isle of Wight, was honored with a standing ovation during his attendance at the 80th anniversary observances of D-Day held on Southsea Common. At the same 80th anniversary events, Mr. Hayward encountered members of the Royal Family and subsequently remarked: “I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them, I thought they were super actually, I was most impressed by the way they chatted to me and were so friendly.” He added, “They asked me how I got on and how I had my legs blown off.” Reflecting on his injuries, he stated, “I lost both of my legs but that’s nothing in comparison with what happened to other people, and that’s always the attitude I’ve had.” Blesma, the charity for limbless veterans of which Mr. Hayward was a member, reported that he, a recipient of the Legion d’honneur for his involvement in the pivotal World War Two engagement, “died peacefully in hospital last weekend.” A representative from Blesma stated that Mr. Hayward succeeded in evacuating another tank crew member but sustained grave injuries, necessitating the amputation of his legs at a field hospital. He was then transported to Portsmouth for medical care and recovery. Subsequently, he resumed employment at a bank, where he met Barbara, who would become his wife in 1948. She passed away prior to him, and they did not have any children. During September, Mr. Hayward was among the most recent World War Two service members to inscribe a Lee-Enfield rifle belonging to a history enthusiast. For updates, BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight can be followed on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.