89 years old, no matter what he was returning to Normandy.
Via The Telegraph
On a day of sombre reflection and deep felt gratitude for the bravery of the men who stormed the Normandy beaches, one D-Day veteran in particular seemed to embody all their pluck, determination and even humour with his actions 70 years later.
Bernard Jordan, who served with the Royal Navy during Operation Overlord, had been looking forward to joining the events in northern France to pay tribute in person to his comrades who fell during the invasion.
But on being told by staff at the residential care home in Hove that they had not been able to get him onto an organised coach trip for the anniversary events, he took matters into his own hands.
Pinning on his D-Day campaign medals under his raincoat Mr Jordan, 89, set off under his own steam and headed for Normandy.
His disappearance prompted staff at the care home to raise the alarm on Thursday evening, with police searching the area and contacting nearby hospitals and bus and taxi companies.
The extent of Mr Jordan’s resolve to join his old comrades only became clear when another veteran – thought to be slightly younger than him – informed police that the missing pensioner had joined a coach party and made his way to Ouistreham.
The veteran, who has lived at The Pines at Furse Hill home since January, is believed to have attended the commemoration services held in the town yesterday.
Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, police commander for Brighton and Hove, said Mr Jordan was “reported missing to us by a care home who said he can’t go to Normandy for D-Day remembrance. We’ve found him there!”
Peter Curtis, CEO of Gracewell Healthcare, the company that owns Mr Jordan’s home, said staff had attempted to book him on an official tour.
He said: “In fact staff at the home tried to get Mr Jordan on to an accredited tour with the Royal British Legion, but due to the last minute nature of the request this was not possible.
“Mr Jordan was reported missing to the police yesterday evening as a matter of caution because he did not return form his normal trip to town and when he left had not told us he was still intent on trying to get to Normandy. We can confirm that he attended the D-Day commemorations in Normandy today.