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WWII Gunner, D-Day Hero, Dies at 105
28 Aug
Summary
- WWII veteran Donald Howkins, a D-Day gunner, has passed away at the age of 105.
- He waterproofed vehicles and ammunition before landing on Gold Beach during the Normandy invasion.
- Howkins served alongside his four brothers, all of whom survived the war.
Donald Howkins, a veteran of the D-Day landings, has passed away at the age of 105. Born in Buckingham, Howkins served as a gunner in the Middlesex Regiment during World War Two. His crucial role involved waterproofing vehicles and ammunition in preparation for the Normandy invasion, after which he landed on Gold Beach.
Remarkably, Donald Howkins served alongside his four brothers during the war, and all five siblings survived the conflict. He often reflected on his longevity, questioning why he lived so long when many of his comrades did not. After the war, he built a successful family business but remained connected to his wartime memories.
Howkins joined the Territorial Army at 17 and, following his service in Normandy, his unit advanced through Belgium and the Netherlands. He sustained a shrapnel wound to his leg, recovering in hospital to learn of his son's birth. Upon the war's conclusion, he was stationed at a prisoner of war camp, celebrating the end of hostilities with his fellow soldiers.
