Reg Arbunkle, 87, who died yesterday is to get a full military state funeral and honoured in the media for his bravery and service to the country in the D-Day landings of Normandy during World War II.
“Reg was only a young lad but he was very brave. He came off those boats while all his comrades were being shot to pieces and he somehow got up the beach to secure a German machine gun post. It took him nearly eight hours to go less than 100 metres but he did it. Out of everyone from his regiment only six people survived of which he was the last one who passed away yesterday,” historian, Mark Graham, told the Sunday Times magazine.
It is the bravery of men like Reg Arbunkle who secured our freedom from the Nazis on the 6th June 1944 that should never be forgotten.
The Sun newspaper and OK magazine, including other media outlets, were said to be preparing for special tribute issues to commemorate Mr Arbunkle’s bravery as well as all those brave soldiers who died in the service of their country.
“The D-Day landings were some of the most brutal military operations in all of history. Young men were simply picked off by the German machineguns as they came off the landing craft. The sea was blood red as many succumbed to the hail of bullets. These are the true brave warriors who fought and died to beat the German Nazi-regime,” Mr Graham added.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will also make an address later on today to the fallen of the D-Day landings as well as those who still survive.
