A Second World War veteran from Staffordshire whose unit played a key role in the D-Day landings has died.
Former Royal Marine Bernard Blakeman died in Stafford Hospital last Friday, aged 86. His funeral was due to take place today, at Stafford Crematorium, at 2.30pm. Mr Blakeman served in the Royal Marines and became a member of the No 48 Commando.
It was was specially formed in 1944 to play a crucial role on D-Day.
He was on one of six landing craft which landed at the Normandy beaches on June 6 in 1944.
Two crafts were sunk within minutes, killing 120 of his comrades, and the 450-strong unit of marines had been whittled down to just 230 by the following day.
Mr Blakeman, whose wife Gladys died during 2001, was said to have rarely spoke of his war-time experiences.
His granddaughter Pauline Lycett said: “He never said much about it but he must have seen a lot of his comrades die during the war.
“From what we’ve found out, he had a lot of near-misses, so we were lucky he came back alive,” she said.
“He was very friendly and would talk to anybody, but he was also very independent,” continued.
“He often went into Stafford on the bus and I’m sure most people in the town would know his face or have spoken to him at some point,” his granddaughter went on to add.
Mr Blakeman, from Highfields, leaves three daughters, two sons and nine grandchildren, along with great-grandchildren.
In 1997, he and his wife celebrated living in the same council house in Poplar Road, Stafford, for 50 years.
They had married in 1941, having met when Mr Blakeman was a lorry driver and she was a Lotus worker.
Romance between the pair blossomed after he spotted her as he was riding through town on his bicycle.
The couple initially lived with Mrs Blakeman’s parents and then moved to Poplar Road after the war.
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