World War Two hero Donald Turrell, who misrepresented his age to join the Army at 17 and subsequently fought in Normandy, has died at the age of 101. He passed away on Friday, August 28, 2026, surrounded by his family, according to a tribute from the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
Born in London in 1925, Turrell forged a letter from his parents to enlist in the Scottish Cameronians as a rifleman. He landed on Sword Beach in France in June 1944, in the days following D-Day, and engaged in combat with German forces.
During the Battle of Eterville on July 10, 1944, Turrell was injured by a mortar blast near Hill 112. Despite his wounds, he used his rifle as a crutch to report the situation before being evacuated. He had previously visited the French village in 2024.
In an interview last year, Turrell recalled his eagerness to join the military, stating, "I did lie about my age. I pushed it up a bit, gave all the right answers, and I was in. I was happy." He explained that like many young men, he wanted to contribute to his country's defense.
Turrell's wartime experience was marked by both excitement and apprehension during the crossing to Normandy, where he witnessed the grim reality of earlier fighting. His military service concluded after he was medically discharged due to his injuries.
The veteran also lost his older brother, Leslie, a telegraphist on HMS Penelope, who died when the ship was sunk off the Italian coast in February 1944.
Dick Goodwin, vice president of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, remembered Turrell as "incredibly special" with a warmth that impacted many. He described Turrell as representing a generation whose "courage and service we will never forget."