D-Day veteran: 'Brexit would be a crying shame after everything we fought for'

Brexit would be a ‘crying shame’ after everything soldiers fought for during the Second World War, a D-Day veteran has said.

Speaking at events in Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Eric Chardin said it would be a shame to break up Europe after everything they had gone through.

The 94-year-old, who was 19 when he landed in Normandy 75-years ago, told the BBC: “Brexit worries me. I can’t help feeling it would be an awful shame that we’ve gone to so much trouble to collect the European nations together, to break it up now would be a crying shame I feel.”

Asked for his thoughts on the peace Europe currently enjoys, he said: “I hope it continues.”

Mr Chardin was also asked whether he felt he was a hero or brave.

But the veteran replied: “Not particularly, no. One was scared.”

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At an inauguration ceremony for a new D-Day memorial overlooking Gold Beach, Theresa May paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the "greatest generation" of service personnel who served during the landings.

She said: "These young men belonged to a very special generation, the greatest generation," she said.

"A generation whose incomparable spirit shaped our postwar world.

"They didn't boast. They didn't fuss. They served."