One of Scotland’s last surviving D-Day veterans has died aged 100.
Albert Lamond, who was born in Glasgow, was just 18 when he took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, serving as a signalman aboard HMS Rowley.
He also served in the Pacific in the lead-up to VJ Day on 15 August 1945, when Japan announced its surrender to the Allied forces.
Mr Lamond’s family have spoken of their pride in the centenarian, who “never thought of himself as a hero” and “believed he was just doing his duty”.
Mr Lamond during his Royal Navy days. Pic: PA/Erskine Veterans Charity
His nephew Martin Lamond said: “We’re all deeply saddened by Albert’s passing. He was a joy to be around and an example to everyone right up to the last.
“He’ll be so greatly missed. Not only have Albert’s friends and family suffered a great loss, everyone has, even if they never had the pleasure of knowing him.
“Albert never thought of himself as a hero. He believed he was just doing his duty, and he carried the memory of those who didn’t make it with him throughout his life.
“We are incredibly proud of him and grateful for the time we had.”
Pic: PA
Mr Lamond joined the Royal Navy in 1943.
He was on board HMS Rowley, part of the 3rd Escort Group, when it was deployed to rendezvous with battleship HMS Warspite as it travelled to Normandy to shell German troops.
The frigate’s role was to act as a first line of defence by circling HMS Warspite and it was expected that the sailors would sacrifice their lives.
Mr Lamond survived and, a year later, on VJ Day, his role was to evacuate Allied prisoners of war (PoW) from remote islands and transport them to Australia.
Mr Lamond, who was 19 at the time, described the PoWs as “living skeletons” but said they were still able to smile when they were rescued.
Marking the 80th anniversary of the landings in 2024, he said it was vital that future generations understood the reality and cost of war.
He said: “It was horrible. It lives with you forever. If we don’t pass the stories on, people will forget, and we can’t let that happen.”
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Mr Lamond enjoyed a career on the railways after leaving the Navy, and later lived at McKellar House at Erskine Veterans Village in Renfrewshire.
Wing Commander Ian Cumming, chief executive at Erskine, said: “Albert represented the very best of his generation.
“He spoke honestly about his service, not to glorify war, but to make sure people understood its cost. Through his time at Erskine, he was committed to passing on those lessons.
“We won’t forget the ever-present twinkle in Albert’s eye, or his cheeky patter. We were truly privileged to care for and support him in later life.”
Mr Lamond will be laid to rest on Tuesday at Dalnottar Cemetery in Clydebank.
