Henry Rice, a World War Two signalman who survived a torpedo attack during the Normandy campaign, has died at the age of 100. Rice, from Cranleigh in Surrey, served aboard HMS Eastway and arrived at Juno Beach five days after the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944. His death comes just two weeks after fellow D-Day veteran Kenneth Hay, aged 101, also passed away.
Rice was born in Battersea and joined the Royal Navy at 17 in 1943, serving until 1947. As a signalman aboard HMS Eastway, an amphibious landing ship built in the United States and supplied to Britain under the wartime Lend-Lease agreement, he played a crucial role in delivering vehicles, men and equipment to reinforce the Normandy effort. The operation on 6 June 1944 was the largest military naval, air and land operation ever attempted and marked the beginning of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe, involving troops from the UK, the US, Canada, and France attacking German forces on the coast of northern France.
Following his service in Normandy, Rice's naval career took him across the globe. The Royal Navy documented that he travelled to Malta, where he was land-based for 12 weeks before journeying through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea. He subsequently served in the Gulf, Sri Lanka, Burma and Singapore.
How did Rice survive his wartime service?
One of Rice's most harrowing experiences occurred when a torpedo was fired directly at the vessel he was aboard. The Royal Navy confirmed that the missile passed beneath the hull, narrowly missing the ship and its crew. This close encounter with enemy fire remained a defining moment in his military service.
What was Rice's commitment to remembrance?
Rice became deeply committed to honouring those who died in the war and never returned home. He attended numerous remembrance events across the United Kingdom, including the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey and the Cenotaph Parade. In a particularly significant moment, he handed Queen Camilla the last ceramic poppy to be placed at the Tower of London to mark VE Day 80, according to the Spirit of Normandy Trust.
Earlier this year, Rice met fellow D-Day veteran Ronald Hendrey from Clacton-on-Sea in Essex for the first time to share memories of the Normandy invasion. More recently, Rice and fellow veteran Ken Hay returned to Normandy in June 2026 for the 82nd anniversary commemorations, with Rice's final act of remembrance being standing on Sword Beach with Hay. During that same month, Rice attended a remembrance service at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer with fellow veterans Richard Brock, 102, and Ken Benbow, 100.
What did Rice say about education and the future?
Rice received the Legion d'honneur from the French government in recognition of his service. He became an advocate for greater education about the Normandy landings, calling for schools to teach children more about the campaign because the
world is dangerous at the moment. When reflecting on his own life, he expressed contentment, saying
I've had a super lifetime.
Rice spoke openly about the emotional weight of remembering fallen comrades. He explained:
I find it too easy to wipe a tear away, so I don't let myself think too deeply. But when I'm on my own, then I do.Revisiting Normandy for remembrance services held profound meaning for him, describing the experience as meaning
everythingto him.
At a Royal Navy gathering in July 2026, Rice recalled witnessing HMS Belfast firing its guns over HMS Eastway during the Normandy operation, a vivid memory from the intense naval campaign.
How did the veteran community remember Rice?
The Spirit of Normandy Trust, a charity supporting veterans, released a statement honouring Rice's legacy. A spokesperson said:
Henry was a great character, with a cheeky smile that endeared him to everyone he met.The organisation noted that
He will be greatly missed by all and we offer his family our most sincere condolences.
Rice's passing marks the loss of another living link to one of history's most significant military operations. His decades of service to remembrance and his commitment to ensuring future generations understood the sacrifice made during the Normandy campaign left a lasting impact on those who knew him and the communities he served.
Key Facts
- Henry Rice served as a signalman aboard HMS Eastway and arrived at Juno Beach five days after D-Day on 6 June 1944
- He survived a torpedo attack when a missile passed beneath his vessel's hull during the Normandy campaign
- Rice received the Legion d'honneur from the French government and attended numerous UK remembrance events including services at Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London
- His death occurred two weeks after fellow D-Day veteran Kenneth Hay, aged 101, also passed away
- Rice served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1947 and subsequently travelled to Malta, the Gulf, Sri Lanka, Burma and Singapore
