'I never expected my very own street party': Albrighton turns out to celebrate war veteran Bill's life
He has been recognised with France’s highest military honour for his part in the D-Day landings.
And now veteran John William Bray – known as Bill – has been celebrated by the whole community in Albrighton as they held a special street party for the 97-year-old.
Among them was 98-year-old Les Cherrington, from Shifnal, an old friend and fellow tank driver who joined in with the party. The pair had not seen each other for 70 years.
Mr Bray was part of a team that destroyed seven enemy tanks and disabled two others.
It was his 24th birthday on June 6, 1944, the date of the famous landings.
He was a tank driver on Sword Beach and later took part in major campaigns, including being part of the Allied Forces’ crossing of the Rhine in Germany in 1945.
Part of A Squadron in the Staffordshire Yeomanry, Mr Bray, who was 17 when he signed up, was awarded the Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur at a special ceremony at RAF Cosford two weeks ago.
Mr Bray, who lives in Albrighton, had a fantastic day. He said: “It’s been great. I never expected anything like this. I’ve been reunited with (fellow tank driver) Les Cherrington, I haven’t seen him for quite a while. He was in the same regiment as me.
“Somebody had to have it [the Legion d’Honneur]. It’s been a good day, there’s been no trouble.”
His daughter Heather, 69, of Newport said: “It’s been a wonderful two weeks and the people of Albrighton and Ashgrove especially have organised this for my dad.
“It’s been amazing. For my dad and for him to see Les, he was truly surprised. They were both in the same regiment but Les’s tank got blown up. My dad was following that tank and he wanted to stop, but he tells the tale that the officer would have shot him if he’d have stopped. He saw Les on fire and sadly I think he must have come out of the army then. Dad continued and went on to be in the D-Day landing.They haven’t seen each other in a long time.”
Mr Cherrington, a fellow tank driver who turns 99 in October, said: “I’ve had a smashing day. It’s been lovely to see him. I think it’s been about 70 years. He was in the tank behind me when I got badly wounded. We mucked about together up the desert one time or another.
“I was in the troop as Bill. I was interested in boxing and in the regimental boxing team for three years. I never thought we’d got reunited all these years later. I’ve often tried to find out where he was. It’s amazing to meet again.
“No others are alive from our troop. I feel fairly well myself. I’ve had my ups and downs but I’m not too bad. I’m better than some people, I don’t need glasses and walk with a stick. I’m quite active.”
Chairman of Albrighton Parish Council, Peter Woodman, said the village would never see an event like it again.
“It was a unique occasion to celebrate one of our residents, Bill, who is 97, and was involved driving a tank in the D-Day landings, driving a tank. His friend Les who was also a tank driver is 98 and how wonderful he was at this party too. Someone drove him from Shifnal, and when he got out the car he stood upright at the age of 98. He turns 99 next month. It’s incredible.”
Mr Bray was born on June 5, 1920, in Hopstone, near Claverley, and turned 24 on the date of date of the famous landings in 1944.
A tank driver on Sword Beach, he took part in major campaigns, including being part of the Allied Forces crossing the Rhine in Germany in 1945.
Mr Woodman added: "There's been a very nice singer doing all the 1940s numbers. Les was singing to one of them which was great.
"The atmosphere has been superb and everyone is so pleased. We'll never see this sort of thing again. Bill has been overwhelmed and the pair are having a fantastic day."
