A D-DAY hero showed the King the dog tags he wore round his neck — still showing traces of blood from where he was shot.
Arthur Oborne, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, was among veterans meeting Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace ahead of this week’s 80th anniversary commemorations.
GettyKing Charles met D-Day veterans including Arthur Oborne ahead of the 80th anniversary of the historic day[/caption]
Arthur showed Charles his dog tags, still spattered in his blood
GettyD-day heroes Arthur Oborne, Jim Miller, Bernard Morgan and John Dennett at Buckingham Palace with Camilla and Charles[/caption]
He told them: “The dog tags were recovered after I got a bullet through the lung and there is some blood still on them.”
Arthur, 100, revealed he was rescued by a friend and added: “As a family we will never forget it.
“We found he was killed the day after.”
Fellow centenarian Bernard Morgan, of the Royal Air Force, showed off a pair of football boots he carried throughout the war.
He said: “I played 12 games including one on the landing craft going to Normandy.
“There was Army personnel on there.
“So we decided to have a football match, the Army versus RAF.
“I think it was a draw.
The King laughed: “Oh really, how fantastic.”
John Dennett, 99, of the Royal Navy, recalled how he missed a bus back to the ship the night before because he was out dancing.
But he added of the fighting: “The lads we lost — it was colossal, it’s frightening.
“That’s when you feel grateful.
“I class myself as being very lucky.”
Jim Miller, 100, of the 11th Hussars, told the King and Queen: “Remembrance is so important.
“The younger generation must learn about it and take it to heart.”
The conversations feature in BBC1’s D-Day 80: Tribute to The Fallen, from 8.30pm tonight.
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