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BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
WW2 veteran Donald Rose 'leaves such a legacy behind'
"We need more Donalds around to make the world a better place."The death of Donald Rose, the UK's oldest surviving World War Two veteran, was announced by Erewash Borough Council on bravery during the conflict, which included surviving being shot in the leg during the D-Day landings, led to multiple honours decades Vue Care Home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, had been the setting for the final years of the 110-year-old's life - and he made quite the impression on the staff co-ordinator Naomi Allsop described Mr Rose as an "amazing" man and a "walking history book". She told the BBC she got to know him when he first moved into the care home in 2020, aged 105, and the pair created a bucket list of activities he wanted to do in his remaining years. Ms Allsop said he managed to complete the bucket list, which included a vintage motorbike show at the care home, getting into a fire engine, and taking part in a flight simulator, while describing each activity as "the best thing ever"."We just used to be like friends, you know, like two buddies. We used to go shopping, go for walks, just sit down and chat," she said."That's all he wanted, just someone to sit down and talk with him. And he used to love singing. So, of course, I love singing as well so we used to sing together and just be happy really."I wouldn't call him a resident, he was more of a friend to me." Mr Rose, originally from Westcott, Surrey, joined the Queen's Royal Regiment at the age of 25 and went on to train as a served in North Africa and Europe, and put his longevity down to salty water he had to drink during his time as a Desert survived a bullet to the leg during the D-Day Landings and was part of the division that liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Rose was eventually a recipient of France's highest award - the French Legion of Allsop said: "Never in my life or in anyone else's life would you have thought you could speak to a war hero and just knowing that he was just an ordinary guy and he always said 'I was no different to anyone else, I did what I had to do'."Just so humble, he will leave such a huge legacy behind."Earlier this year, as the country marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Mr Rose was part of a special episode of The One Show to mark the occasion, and filmed with comedian and war history enthusiast Al Murray. In May, Mr Rose was awarded the Freedom of Erewash at a ceremony at his care he was presented with the Freedom of Erewash, he said it was "great" and thanked all who had come to see him."I didn't do anything that anybody else wouldn't have done," he said at the time. Erewash Borough Council leader James Dawson paid tribute to Mr Rose and said Erewash was "privileged to count him as a resident". His son David Rose previously described his father as "amazing"."He always worked so hard. After the war, he drove a dust cart, then worked for the gas board and he would do any work to put food on the family table," he said."Bearing in mind what he's been through, it's quite something, and he's still here to tell the tale."You start telling [his] story and you get a lump in your throat. All I can say is I'm extremely proud of the man."A spokesperson for the Royal British Legion said: "Donald's life and legacy will forever serve as a poignant reminder of the invaluable sacrifices made by those who served during the Second World War."We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends."
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Britain's oldest Second World War veteran dies aged 110: Donald Rose survived D-Day, liberated Belsen and won the Legion D'Honneur
Britain's oldest Second World War veteran, also believed to be Britain's oldest man, Donald Rose, has passed away aged 110. The D-Day veteran was born on Christmas Eve in 1914, the same year that Britain saw the outbreak of the First World War, and was just 25 when he signed up to fight on the front line in the Second World War. A former sniper and Desert Rat, Mr Rose also served with the Queen's Royal Regiment and was awarded a number of medals during his service including France 's highest medal, the Legion D'Honneur. His death was confirmed by Erewash Borough Council in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, yesterday and council leader James Dawson paid tribute to him as a 'war hero'. Mr Dawson said: 'Our condolences go out to Donald's family and all who knew him. 'Erewash was privileged to count him as a resident.' Mr Rose, who lived in a care home from 2020, had one grandchild and three great-grandchildren. The veteran was so popular that in 2023 a public appeal for people to send him birthday cards saw him receive more than 150 messages from well-wishers. In 2024 a special Spitfire flyover was arranged for Mr Rose at his care home, where Naomi Allsop worked. At the time she said: 'He's the oldest World War Two veteran in the UK - you learn about it at school, but being with him is something else. 'The wars are part of our history and if nobody celebrates the heroes, they will fade away. 'Donald was so excited about the flypast - it's lovely to see the whole of the UK getting involved to appreciate the work he and the other veterans did. 'Whenever we do any events like this, like Remembrance Day, he always says 'I'm not that special, I just did what I had to do'. 'He thinks the men that fell are the heroes, and he doesn't see himself as one because he lived and they didn't. 'He's so lovely, he likes to sing a lot and tells funny stories. 'I've known Donald since he came to the home and we've been best friends ever since. 'He says there's no secret to living a long life - but reckons his insides have been 'pickled' by drinking sea water and eating dog biscuits during the war!' He previously lived in Westcott, Surrey with his late wife Jeannette of 55 years, before moving to Derbyshire in 2000 when she passed away. In May he joined 45 other veterans as guests of honour at a tea party celebration hosted by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, to mark 80 years since VE Day. Mr Rose, who was attached to the division which liberated Belsen concentration camp, said at the event that he did not celebrate the momentous day 80 years ago. He said: 'When I heard that the armistice had been signed 80 years ago, I was in Germany at Belsen and, like most active soldiers, I didn't get to celebrate at that time. 'We just did what we thought was right and it was a relief when it was over. 'I never would have believed I would be remembering this day at 110 years old. 'It's meaningful to come here today with the Royal British Legion, to remember the people who didn't come back.' Mr Rose previously said there's no secret to living a long life - but thought his insides may have been 'pickled' by drinking sea water and eating dog biscuits during the war In the same month, Erewash mayor presented Mr Rose with the freedom of the borough for his bravery in the Second World War. According to the council, Mr Rose said he was proud and happy to receive it, but said: 'I didn't do anything that anyone else would not have done.' The council flew its flags at half mast to mark Mr Rose's death. The Desert Rats' took part in the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, the Allied invasion of Italy in September 1943 and the Normandy D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, before ending the war in Germany. Their exploits during the Siege of Tobruk were immortalised in the 1953 war film The Desert Rats starring Richard Burton. The 7th Armoured Division was formed in 1938 to protect the Suez Canal, and went on to fight in some of the war's bloodiest battles. Nicknamed the Desert Rats, they were deployed to North Africa where, under General Montgomery, they won the battles of El Alamein to help change the course of the war. More recently they served on the battlefields of Iraq. The success of the Desert Rats in North Africa during the Second World War led Winston Churchill to declare: 'Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat.' The Desert Rats went on to fight in some of the war's bloodiest battles: at Salerno in Italy, in Normandy and crossing the Rhine into Germany. They ended the war in the victory parade in Berlin – at the very heart of the Third Reich. The 7th Armoured Brigade was detached from the division during early 1942 and fought the Japanese in Burma before returning to battle in Italy.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
UK's oldest WW2 veteran Donald Rose dies, aged 110
Donald Rose, the UK's oldest surviving World War Two veteran, has died at the age of Borough Council, which presented Mr Rose with a freedom honour in May, confirmed the news on Rose, who served in the Queen's Royal Regiment as a sniper, survived a bullet to the leg during the D-Day leader James Dawson paid tribute to Mr Rose, who lived at a care home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, saying: "Erewash was privileged to count him as a resident."
