ONE OF the last surviving D-Day veterans in Surrey, who revisited the landing beaches as part of this year’s 75th anniversary commemorations, has died.

Chiddingfold veteran William Laing, who died aged 92 in September, was just 17 and serving in the Merchant Navy when he sailed across the channel twice on June 6 in 1944 on a troop carrier to help Allied soldiers disembark against heavy resistance.

The demands of Operation Neptune did not end with the securing of the five invasion beaches on the first day, however, and Mr Laing also helped in the vital task of building the Mulberry Harbours which sustained Allied operations until a functioning port could be secured.

A true hero, who always insisted he did “very little” in the Second World War, he was born in Scotland but moved to Fareham, where his father served as a submariner in both world wars.

Mr Laing left school aged 14 and lied about his age in the hope of joining the Royal Navy. He was rejected as under age, but succeeded in bluffing his way into the Merchant Navy, where he served from 1942-48.

He successfully enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1948 and trained to be an air engineer before seeing more active service with the Fleet Air Arm in Korea from 1950-53.

Remarkably, he survived two torpedo attacks while on a minesweeper after his family had received notifications each time he was missing at sea.

Miraculously, while serving in Singapore, he was bitten by a deadly water snake but survived, waking up a week later in hospital and making a full recovery.

Mr Laing also enjoyed the distinction of being trained by the future Prince Philip when he joined the Royal Navy.

It was just after Mr Laing joined the Royal Navy that he met his future wife Josephine, who was working a ship’s cook. The couple married on July 2 in 1949 and had one son and three daughters – including late arrival Alyson in 1970.

Mr Laing was chief petty officer when he retired from the Royal Navy in 1969. He ran a paper shop in Waterlooville, before moving to Surrey to become chief inspector for British Aerospace at Dunsfold Aerodrome in 1978, where three Harriers were commandeered as part of the Falklands War in 1980.

It was a stressful time for a chief inspector and Mr Laing had three heart attacks before retiring in 1982.

Recovered and not ready for retirement, he worked for Reliant Design aircraft engineers in Bordon for six years until 1992, where he made test rigs and was an inspector.

Still keen to keep his hand in, he worked as a van driver for a Godalming florist and was bitten on the bottom by Chris Evans’ dog while making a delivery to the radio DJ when he lived locally.

A loyal Royal British Legion supporter, he was a familiar figure to many shoppers at Godalming’s Sainsbury’s store where he was a poppy seller for 15 years until seven years ago.

Mrs Laing died in February 2018 and her husband was still living independently in their home in Chiddingfold until he was taken ill with pneumonia in August.

His daughter Alyson said: “He adored being one of the 250 D-Day veterans on board the MV Boudicca in June as guests of the Royal British Legion.

“He met the Queen and President Donald Trump and was given a Union Jack by Prince Charles. It was the first time he had been back to the Normany beaches for 75 years.

“He was very modest and said he didn’t know what all the fuss was about. Whenever he was asked about the war, he said he did as little as possible. I always thought he would live forever. He was made of such tough stuff.

“As well as being treated like royalty for the D-Day landings commemorative voyage, he was a special guest at Guildford Cathedral this year for Armed Forces Day.”

All are welcome to attend a service of celebration for William Laing’s life being held on September 26 at GreenAcres woodland burials, Heatherley Wood, Grayshott Road, Headley. The service is at 1pm with a reception afterwards at Chiddingfold Baptist Church.