HUNDREDS turned out for the funeral of a D-Day veteran from Solihull.
Standard bearers escorted the hearse carrying Albert Price into his funeral service at Robin Hood Crematorium on Friday (May 31).
It came following an appeal online urging people to attend the 98-year-old’s funeral.
He leaves behind a wife and a daughter.
Trooper Price was one of the first to step on to Gold Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944 with the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards – when he was just 18.
Two days later, Albert’s tank came under attack, with seven of the nine tanks in his squadron being destroyed including his own, by Germen Panzers.
His colleagues were injured and killed – and Albert was shot.
Fellow veteran Barry Dickens said Albert returned to action later.
Barry added: “Albert joined the Army when he was 16 and took part in a secret exercise of floating tanks, at Studland Bay, as a rehearsal for the D-Day Landings.
“Despite his many experiences on D-Day and afterwards across Europe, Albert’s prominent memory was of ‘feeling proud to be there and to do the job well’.”
Albert was known in Monkspath for his walks to the local shops and to the Armed Forces Garden.
President of Warwickshire and Birmingham County Royal British Legion, Elaine Butler, said: “Albert was very much looking forward to his return D-Day visit to Normandy organised by my colleagues in the RBL, a visit he cherished, in a few weeks time.
“A brave and unassuming man, we shall miss Albert and thank him for all he did for us and send our love to his family.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants.”
