D-Day Veteran and Bergen-Belsen Liberator Dies at 104

Donald Sheppard, a veteran of D-Day and the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, has passed away at the age of 104. Sheppard's remarkable life spanned one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history, including his participation in the pivotal Normandy landings on June 6, 1944.

Serving as a dispatch rider for the Royal Engineers, Sheppard was among the 156,000 British, American, and Canadian troops who participated in Operation Neptune, the seaborne invasion of Nazi-occupied France. He landed on Juno Beach, one of the five designated landing areas, at approximately 4:30 PM on D-Day.

The British Normandy Memorial, which virtually opened in 2021, paid tribute to Sheppard on September 8, 2024, announcing his passing. The memorial, dedicated to over 22,000 servicemen and women who lost their lives during the Battle of Normandy, features Sheppard in an exhibition by the Winston Churchill Centre and the Royal British Legion.

In a 2019 interview, Sheppard reflected on the Normandy landings, describing them as both "tragic" and "so important." He recounted the intense German resistance, with shells "coming over like rain" and battleships firing overhead. Despite the heavy casualties, Sheppard considered himself fortunate to have survived.

After breaking through Nazi lines in August 1944, Sheppard's unit advanced through Belgium, the Netherlands, and into Germany. In April 1945, he participated in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, an experience that left an indelible mark on him. "I shall never forget that for the rest of my life. How one human could do that to another," he remarked, highlighting the profound impact of witnessing the camp's horrific conditions.

Throughout his service, Sheppard's only recorded injury was a cut to his leg while taking cover from German bombs. Remarkably, medical tests conducted decades later revealed a piece of shrapnel lodged in his lung, a silent reminder of the war's lasting physical impact on veterans.

As we remember Donald Sheppard, we honor not only his service but also the sacrifices of all those who participated in D-Day and the subsequent liberation of Europe. His passing marks the gradual fading of living memory from this pivotal period in history, underscoring the importance of preserving and sharing these accounts for future generations.

"I know we had to defend ourselves... but young guys like me 20, 21, who never lasted five minutes, some of them got killed before they got off the boat. Tragic, absolutely."

Sheppard's life and experiences serve as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience of those who served. As we approach the 81st anniversary of D-Day in 2025, his story continues to resonate, highlighting the bravery and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation.