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WWII Veteran, 101, Who Aided D-Day Spies Dies
4 Jun
Summary
- A 101-year-old D-Day veteran died peacefully on Wednesday, May 27th.
- He helped rescue British spies from occupied France during WWII.
- Redston helped build the UK's first motorway after the war.
Bill Redston, a 101-year-old veteran of World War Two, has died. He passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 27th, at a care home in Wombourne. Redston served in the navy, joining as an officer at 18 and quickly rising to first lieutenant. His service included perilous missions to rescue British spies from occupied France.
Redston participated in the D-Day invasion, escorting supply vessels to Utah Beach the day after initial landings. His motor launch was initially scheduled to guide US troops but was rerouted, narrowly avoiding a sinking. Post-war, he became a civil engineer, contributing to the construction of the UK's first motorway.
Redston lived in Wolverhampton for over 60 years and was known for his active lifestyle, running marathons in his sixties and cycling into his eighties. He received the Legion d'Honneur medal from France in 2021 for his D-Day service, a moment he cherished as one of his proudest.
