Posted on 09/04/2020 10:51:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Geoffrey Pyne was the last of his generation - he will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
The last post has sounded for a World War II soldier who was thought to be Exeter's last D-Day veteran.
Geoffrey Pyne served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and stormed the Normandy beaches in 1944.
The proud soldier celebrated his 100th birthday last year but has lost his final battle against old age, his family has confirmed.
Geoffrey's funeral will be attended by a standard bearer of his old army corps which says it is 'immensely proud' of Geoffrey and his generation of fighting men who saved the country from Nazi tyranny.
Son Graham said his father had led a fascinating life which had taken him from humble beginnings in Heavitree to heroic actions in Europe and the Allied landing in France. Later in life he met the Queen and was awarded France's highest military honour, the Legion d'honneur.
Geoffrey William Pyne was born in Goldsmith Street in Exeter in 1919 and attended Ladysmith School.
On leaving school at 14 he apprenticed as a plumber with Downe and Baker. In 1939 - the year war broke out - he joined the Territorial Army, Royal Devon Yeomanry and then the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME) as part of the Anti-Tank Regiment landing on Sword Beach on D Day in 1944.
Graham says: "He drove a supply lorry off the landing craft pulling an artillery gun, the landing craft received damage from an artillery shell, resulting in damage to the ramp.
"A month after landing he received a shrapnel wound to his shoulder and spent a month in hospital. His friend was killed during the attack, but he was not told what had happened to his colleague."
In spite of being injured in Belgium he returned to active service and fought all the way to Bremen. After the War Geoffrey returned to Exeter to work in his old employment but later moved across to Exeter City Council where he was instrumental in re-instating the city’s water network following the Blitz and in particular the part of the City once known as Bedford Circus.
His interest in ballroom dancing led him to meet Dorothy and they married in 1942.
They planned their reception at the Deller’s restaurant in Exeter, however a bomb destroyed the venue five days before. They continued their ballroom dancing interest throughout their married life.
Graham was born in 1951 and he is survived by two grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Dorothy died in 2010.
The old soldier made several visits to the D-Day memorial celebrations, meeting the Queen as part of the 70th anniversary. It was during the visit that, by chance, he found his friend's memorial, not knowing what had happened to him in the decades since he was killed.
Geoffrey received France's highest military medal, the Légion d’honneur, for his contribution to the liberation of France. This was presented to him by the French Ambassador at the British Ensign Centre.
In December, Geoffrey celebrated his 100th Birthday at Exminster Golf Club together with his family and friends. The Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Peter Holland, presented Geoffrey with a card and gift on behalf of Exeter City Council and wider community. He also received a card from the Queen.
"There is reason to believe that he was the last surviving REME engineer to have landed at D-Day and the last D Day veteran in Devon," said Graham.
A spokesman for the REME confirmed Graham was one of, if not the last, remaining D-Day veterans. Whether any more survive is unknown. The Corps will be represented at the funeral on September 4 by Mike Evans and members of the North Devon Branch of the REME Association including a standard bearer.
The spokesman added: "The nation owes a huge debt of gratitude to Geoffrey Pyne and all members of his wartime generation. We would not have the freedom we enjoy today without their service and sacrifice. The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers REME formed on 1st October 1942, yes in the middle of World War 2. What a brave and bold decision that was, to form a brand new Corps of the Army during a World War but the government realised a professional engineering Corps was needed in order to ensure victory. This war could only have been won by keeping fit equipment in the hands of the fighting soldier; be that a vehicle, a weapon whatever - it had to be reliable and it had to work. Thanks to Geoffrey and his mates it did.
"Geoffrey deployed on the Normandy landings and landed on Sword beach on the morning of 6th June 1944. We can only imagine today the horrors he faced. Face it he did and he survived the remainder of the war able to tell his tale until he sadly passed away on 6th August 2020. The Corps is immensely proud of Geoffrey and his generation of our founder members. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten."
God bless and keep him and all those whom did their duty in honor of God and country.
Rest in peace, old timer.
The story states he passed away August 6th 2020. So he is alive right now?
It is now September
My bad, I’m so far behind the times.
Are you doing a Joe Biden imitation?
RIP.
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