UK’s oldest WWII veteran, Donald Rose, dies at 110

LONDON — Donald Rose, Britain’s oldest World War II veteran, passed away at the remarkable age of 110.

Rose bravely took part in the historic D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, and was a part of the unit that liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany.

James Dawson, the leader of the Erewash Borough Council, paid tribute to Rose, referring to him as a “war hero” in a statement announcing his passing.

“Erewash was honored to have him as a resident,” Dawson added.

In a special event held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Rose and 45 other veterans were honored guests at a tea party hosted by the Royal British Legion to commemorate 80 years since Victory in Europe Day.

Born on Christmas Eve in 1914 amid the turmoil of World War I, Rose shared that he did not celebrate VE Day at the time due to his duties in Germany at Belsen.

“We just did what we thought was right and it was a relief when it was over,” Rose reflected on his service during the war.

Originally hailing from Westcott village, southwest of London, Rose enlisted in the army at the age of 23 and served in various theaters of war, earning multiple medals and France’s highest honor, the Legion d’Honneur.

Donald Rose, who is also believed to be the oldest man in the U.K., leaves behind a legacy of courage and sacrifice that will be remembered for generations to come.