Latest news with #RoyalDragoonGuards
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Funeral celebrates life of much-loved D-Day veteran
The funeral of one of the last survivors of the assault on the D-Day beaches in 1944 has been held at Wiltshire crematorium. Cecil Newton, from the village of Aldbourne and died at the age of 101, was 20 years old on D-Day when he was part of a tank crew sent to attack a German blockhouse. His amphibious Sherman Tank was among the first to land on Gold Beach on 6 June. Described as "feisty, driven, a little bit mischievous", he was involved in the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations, and even had a French school named after him. Major Graeme Green, the regimental secretary for the Royal Dragoon Guards, described Mr Newton as a "great guy" who always had a "little glint in his eye". He added that Mr Newton was "driven to commemorate his fallen comrades". At the funeral earlier at North Wiltshire Crematorium, near Royal Wootton Bassett, a message was played from the Cecil Newton Primary School in Normandy. Mr Newton was a trooper in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and a loader in an amphibious Sherman Tank crew. "I was never nervous. I was too young to be nervous. I hadn't got the imagination," he said in a BBC interview about D-day. Along with his crew, he was in action for just a few moments. "It was just off the landing craft into the water, an engagement with the blockhouse and then we sank," he said. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Later in the war, in November 1944, he was severely wounded with a leg injury and was shot three times when his tank came under attack in a German village. He described himself as "exceptionally lucky to survive" the later attack. Amongst those he knew who died in the war was Mr Newton's brother Frederic - shot dead by two Germans who raised their hands to surrender, but then opened fire. In June 2024, Mr Newton travelled back to France to take part in the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations. He also visited a French school named after him and some of the places his comrades fell in battle. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. D-Day veteran Cecil Newton dies aged 101 D-Day veteran says friends' sacrifice a 'waste of life'
BBC News
17-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Funeral celebrates life of one of the last survivors of D-Day
The funeral of one of the last survivors of the assault on the D-Day beaches in 1944 has been held at Wiltshire Newton. from the village of Aldbourne, was 20 years old on D-Day when he was part of a tank crew sent to attack a German blockhouse. His amphibious Sherman Tank was among the first to land on Gold Beach on 6 as "feisty, driven, a little bit mischievous", he was involved in the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations, and even had a French school named after Graeme Green, the regimental secretary for the Royal Dragoon Guards, described Mr Newton as a "great guy" who always had a "little glint in his eye". He added that Mr Newton was "driven to commemorate his fallen comrades".At the funeral earlier at North Wiltshire Crematorium, near Royal Wootton Bassett, a message was played from the Cecil Newton Primary School in Normandy. Mr Newton was a trooper in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and a loader in an amphibious Sherman Tank crew."I was never nervous. I was too young to be nervous. I hadn't got the imagination," he said in a BBC interview about D-day. Along with his crew, he was in action for just a few moments."It was just off the landing craft into the water, an engagement with the blockhouse and then we sank," he said. Later in the war, in November 1944, he was severely wounded with a leg injury and was shot three times when his tank came under attack in a German described himself as "exceptionally lucky to survive" the later those he knew who died in the war was Mr Newton's brother Frederic - shot dead by two Germans who raised their hands to surrender, but then opened June 2024, Mr Newton travelled back to France to take part in the D-Day 80th anniversary also visited a French school named after him and some of the places his comrades fell in battle.
Sky News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Prince William joins British troops in Challenger 2 tank on visit to Estonia
The Prince of Wales has joined troops in a Challenger 2 tank as he visited UK soldiers on a NATO base less than 100 miles from the Russian border. Prince William travelled in the commander's turret of the tank as it sped across muddy terrain at Tapa army camp in Estonia. He watched on as soldiers from the Mercian Regiment took part in training exercises. The Mercians, of which he is colonel-in-chief, have just started their six-month deployment in Estonia as the lead battlegroup working alongside NATO partners. With 900 British service personnel in Estonia, it is the UK's largest permanent overseas deployment. The prince witnessed how soldiers worked to clear trenches, as smoke grenades were set off and blank rounds of gunfire rang out. Earlier, as he oversaw the operational handover between the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercians, he was shown a selection of military vehicles including the Warrior, an infantry fighting vehicle, the Challenger 2 main battle tank, and the multiple launch rocket systems on the parade ground. Later he was allowed to get behind the wheel of an Archer, a mobile artillery vehicle with a weapon range of 50km (31 miles). Speaking to soldiers about his visit, he said: "Hopefully this provides a bit of interest for you all and what you're doing and keeps everyone on their toes." His trip to Tapa Camp was part of a two-day visit on behalf of the UK government, with the prince deployed to show his support to Estonia, to Ukraine and the UK's commitment to NATO. The visit has been in the planning for six months, but its timing couldn't feel more significant amid the ongoing threats from Russia, discussions of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and Trump's criticisms of NATO. 0:37 Lt Col Grant Brown from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who was accompanying the prince during the field training exercise, said: "Every week there is something new going on. Our job is to reassure our allies that we are absolutely committed to freedom. And to ensure we are ready to face any threat no matter where that might come from... We are constantly out here training to ensure that we are ready." But aside from his high-level diplomatic role, Prince William wanted to draw attention to the reality of life for those troops expected to be ready to fight at any time. Talking to Estonian troops, one of them told him how they daily think about the close proximity of Russia, with the prince saying: "Yes it must focus the mind". He also spent time talking to British troops about their experiences of deployment and the impact it can have on their mental health. Breaking down the stigma around mental health is a cornerstone of the Prince's official work. British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to NATO's Forward Land Forces in the two countries, providing a deterrent to Russian aggression.
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Fact Check: NATO troops in Estonia for 2025 Independence Day, not military escalation
A video of NATO troops and armoured vehicles in Estonia in February is not evidence of a recent military escalation with Russia, as has been suggested online. "NATO arrived to Estonia. British soldiers and tanks in Tallinn. #tank #estronia #nato #russia #ww3 #itshappening #wtf #war,' said a March 30 post on Threads., opens new tab An official from NATO's press office said in an email to Reuters there was not a military escalation with Russia, as suggested by the post's hashtags, and that the footage showed the British Army's Royal Dragoon Guards in Tallinn on February 24, 2025, to mark Estonia's Independence Day, opens new tab. The Royal Dragoon Guards were in the city as part of NATO's multinational battlegroup in Estonia, which is led by UK troops and is tasked with protecting the alliance's eastern flank, opens new tab. NATO says, opens new tab the battlegroup was first deployed in 2017. The bell tower in the background of the video is consistent with Google Maps images, opens new tab of St. Nicholas Church in central Tallinn. A spokesperson for the British Embassy in Tallinn also said the video showed scenes from Estonia's Independence Day on February 24, 2025. Reuters identified the three British military vehicles in the video. The vehicles - which had the numberplates 62KK13, opens new tab, DT16AA, opens new tab, and 87KJ63, opens new tab - were pictured in Estonia between May and December 2024, evidence that none of them had just arrived in the country in February 2025, as implied by the social media post. The video was published to the YouTube account @inside2279, opens new tab with a caption that included the words: "NATO army arrived to Estonia. Independence Day" on March 24, 2025, opens new tab. A spokesperson for the account, in an email to Reuters, said they had filmed and published the footage, which they said showed Tallinn on February 24, 2025, on Estonia's Independence Day. VERDICT Miscaptioned. The video shows NATO troops in Tallinn on February 24, 2025, for Estonia's Independence Day, according to NATO and British officials. Photos posted online in 2024 suggest the three armoured vehicles in the video were in Estonia long before February. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
Sky News
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Prince William pictured in Challenger 2 tank on visit to British troops in Estonia
The Prince of Wales has joined troops in a Challenger 2 tank as he visited UK soldiers on a NATO base less than 100 miles from the Russian border. Prince William travelled in the commander's turret of the tank as it sped across muddy terrain at Tapa army camp in Estonia. He watched on as soldiers from the Mercian Regiment took part in training exercises. The Mercians, of which he is colonel-in-chief, have just started their six-month deployment in Estonia as the lead battlegroup working alongside NATO partners. With 900 British service personnel in Estonia, it is the UK's largest permanent overseas deployment. The prince witnessed how soldiers worked to clear trenches, as smoke grenades were set off and blank rounds of gunfire rang out. Earlier, as he oversaw the operational handover between the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercians, he was shown a selection of military vehicles including the Warrior, an infantry fighting vehicle, the Challenger 2 main battle tank, and the multiple launch rocket systems on the parade ground. Later he was allowed to get behind the wheel of an Archer, a mobile artillery vehicle with a weapon range of 50km (31 miles). Speaking to soldiers about his visit, he said: "Hopefully this provides a bit of interest for you all and what you're doing and keeps everyone on their toes." His trip to Tapa Camp was part of a two-day visit on behalf of the UK government, with the prince deployed to show his support to Estonia, to Ukraine and the UK's commitment to NATO. The visit has been in the planning for six months, but its timing couldn't feel more significant amid the ongoing threats from Russia, discussions of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and Trump's criticisms of NATO. 0:37 Lt Col Grant Brown from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who was accompanying the prince during the field training exercise, said: "Every week there is something new going on. Our job is to reassure our allies that we are absolutely committed to freedom. And to ensure we are ready to face any threat no matter where that might come from... We are constantly out here training to ensure that we are ready." But aside from his high-level diplomatic role, Prince William wanted to draw attention to the reality of life for those troops expected to be ready to fight at any time. Talking to Estonian troops, one of them told him how they daily think about the close proximity of Russia, with the prince saying: "Yes it must focus the mind". He also spent time talking to British troops about their experiences of deployment and the impact it can have on their mental health. Breaking down the stigma around mental health is a cornerstone of the Prince's official work. British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to NATO's Forward Land Forces in the two countries, providing a deterrent to Russian aggression.
