Veteran (85) returns to France to mark D-Day

AN 85-YEAR-OLD second World War veteran living in Cork has returned to Normandy as part of a British lottery-funded scheme.

Dennis Boardman, Monkstown, in Cork travelled to Northern France to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Seven Northern Ireland veterans, from Belfast, Antrim, Craigavon, Newtownards and Portstewart are also to travel to France this week under the scheme.

Veterans in Ireland and the UK can apply for the scheme from the British lottery’s Big Lottery Fund’s Heroes Return. Grants range from £150 to £5,500 sterling.

Originally from Worsley near Manchester, Mr Boardman moved to Cork in 1973.

He joined the army in 1942 when he was aged 19 and was one of the first soldiers to parachute into France on D-Day.

He was a member of the 13th Lancashire Unit that liberated Ranville, the first French village to be freed from German control.

The visit to Normandy meant a lot to him. “I went back to pay homage to my mates and all the other lads who died for our freedom,” he said.

Anyone interested in applying for a grant can call the helpline on 00 44 845 00 00 121.