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Former Donington paratrooper to travel to Normandy with Fleet Hargate veteran champion to honour the fallen




A former paratrooper will be visiting the cemeteries of fallen soldiers who fought in the Second World War.

Donington man Tom Gilks, who served in 9 Squadron Para Royal Engineers, is travelling to Normandy with Harold Payne of Anglia Motel, Fleet Hargate to pay their respects on June 6.

The 85-year-old veteran was 18 when he joined up and served at Aldershot and in Cyprus in the 1950s as one of the ‘maroon berets’.

Tom Gilks with a plaque which was installed in Donington to honour the paratroopers who fought in the Second World War PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Tom Gilks with a plaque which was installed in Donington to honour the paratroopers who fought in the Second World War PHOTO: SUPPLIED

He said: “I have visited many times over the years.

“I go to catch up with some old pals, of whom now there are less and less.

“I went last year and it is very moving.”

Harold Payne leaves a bouquet of flowers at the grave of a local soldier - Sgt L Segwick of the Lincolnshire Regiment, killed July 8 1944 - in Normandy on a previous trip
Harold Payne leaves a bouquet of flowers at the grave of a local soldier - Sgt L Segwick of the Lincolnshire Regiment, killed July 8 1944 - in Normandy on a previous trip

He will travel by ferry with Mr Payne who has raised some £1million for veterans, enabling them to return to the beaches and battlefields to lay flowers.

Mr Gilks said: “Harold has done so much.

“He is an incredible man and it is absolutely true that we must not forget.

“It is very moving indeed to see where the boys landed and what they went through.”

Air cadets watch the poppy drop at the Anglia Motel in Fleet Hargate
Air cadets watch the poppy drop at the Anglia Motel in Fleet Hargate

Serving in the military has become a family tradition as Mr Gilks’ father saw active service during the Second World War. His son is also a serviceman.

Mr Gilks has also helped to unveil a plaque in Donington to honour Second World War paratroopers who were billeted in the village before heading over to help liberate Nazi-occupied Europe.

As a young lad, aged seven, he would march holding a stick with the servicemen who were training in preparation for the Battle of Arnhem.

He said: “Little did I know that ten years later I would be serving.

Veterans campaigner Harold Payne on board his amphibious vehicle PHOTO: JOHN KINDER
Veterans campaigner Harold Payne on board his amphibious vehicle PHOTO: JOHN KINDER

“There are some stories of comrades who fought, were captured and escaped several times to return to their lines.

“Some were wounded, held as prisoners and escaped again to eventually return to the UK.”

Mr Payne intends to collect donations of fresh flowers at Anglia Motel to take to lay on the graves and place in the sea on what is his 36th year visiting.

He said: “We always leave fresh flowers to show that people have visited.

Harold Payne and his wartime amphibious landing craft the DUKW in Normandy on a previous trip
Harold Payne and his wartime amphibious landing craft the DUKW in Normandy on a previous trip

“We visit the boys in the cemetery and lay flowers on the graves.

“There are rows of our Lincolnshire boys from Moulton, Gedney, Whaplode - people don’t realise.”

Mr Payne’s charity work for veterans has seen him receive accolades - and he highlights the need for the phrase Lest We Forget’.

He added: “There were a lot of men lost from Lincolnshire.

“They should be remembered - it is not just history.

“They should not be forgotten.”



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