'Reluctant hero' veteran who survived D-Day at just 19 years old dies aged 97
manchestereveningnews.co.ukTributes are being paid to a D-Day war veteran who has died aged 97. Royal Marine Jim Healy's proud family described him as a modest 'reluctant hero' - one of the lucky ones to survive the largest seaborne invasion in history.
He was just 19 at the time. The Royal British Legion meanwhile, who supported him when he visited the shores of Normandy in France again in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, said he leaves behind 'an incredible legacy'.
Jim was one of the few D-Day veterans still living in Greater Manchester. READ MORE: Mourners arrive on horse-drawn carriage for funeral of Tyson Fury's cousin Rico Burton Jim, who lived in Middleton, landed on Juno beach on June 6, 1944 - D-Day.
As a coxswain, he was in control of a landing craft assault tasked with carrying Canadian troops up and onto the coast of Normandy, despite the fact he couldn't swim at the time and hadn't been to sea before.
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