World War Two Veteran Reflects on a Year of Royal Encounters and Hero Status

A World War Two veteran from Cornwall has reflected on a year in which he met royalty and was recognized as a hero. In June, Richard Aldred, a resident of Callington, journeyed to Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landings, where he encountered King Charles III and exchanged a humorous moment. Two months subsequent to this, the 100-year-old veteran revisited the area, specifically Bourneville, a town that he and his tank crew contributed to liberating eight decades prior. There, he was bestowed with the status of Freeman of the Town, an honor that came as a surprise to him, as he stated, “I just did my duty”. During his service in World War Two, Mr. Aldred operated as a Cromwell tank driver, assigned to the Army’s 7th Armoured Division. The meeting with the King occurred on June 6, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, during the commemoration marking the commencement of the Battle of Normandy. Mr. Aldred recounted the interaction, stating: “I must have said something funny because we were laughing about it all.” He further commented on the monarch’s demeanor: “He’s nothing like a king you read about in history books where you get your head chopped off for saying the wrong thing.” He concluded, “He was a bloke you would be happy to have breakfast with and a laugh.” Two months subsequent to his initial visit, Mr. Aldred undertook a personal pilgrimage back to Normandy. His journey led him to the town of Bourneville where, following an engagement with local schoolchildren, he was celebrated as the guest of honor at a special dinner event where he formally received his freeman status. Reflecting on the reception, he remarked: “They made a tremendous fuss of me, which was a bit embarrassing. I don’t feel as if I deserve it.” He continued, expressing his perspective on the hero label: “I’m not kidding you. I think they think I’m a hero, like John Wayne from a cowboy film. “I’m not a hero. I just did my duty because you don’t let your mates down.” Mr. Aldred indicated his intention to revisit Normandy the following year, provided his health allows. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.