A NATION REMEMBERS

Heroes who nearly died will salute fallen friends

- Karen Rockett

TWO D-Day veterans who cheated death will remember their fallen comrades when they return to Normandy for this week’s emotional commemorations.

Royal Navy veteran Stan Ford, who turned 99 on May 7, recalled being thrown from his ship after an explosion that killed 31 people just weeks after D-Day.

He served on HMS Fratton, which escorted ships taking people back to the UK and suffered lifelong injuries when his vessel was sunk by a midget submarine off Normandy. Thirty-eight crew members were res cued but 31 died.