One of Britain’s oldest surviving Normandy veterans who kept his mind sharp by reading the Daily Mail every day has died ‘in comfort with a smile on his face’ aged 106.
Tony Johnson, who landed on Gold Beach after D-Day and also fought at El Alamein, in North Africa, worked his way up in the construction industry after the war and lived independently up until his death.
Until recently, Mr Johnson still attended Remembrance events in his native Manchester and was invited to 80th anniversary commemorations for D-Day in London last May, attended by the King and Queen but was unable to go because he no longer felt fit-enough.
He died on Saturday April 11, after a short illness, his family said.
After turning 105, in October 2024, Mr Johnson spoke to the Daily Mail and told how he liked to peruse his favourite newspaper every morning – starting with the front and back pages, then reading the share prices like a City trader, before turning to the crossword.
Mr Johnson had read the Daily Mail since 1961, the same year he and late wife Myra bought their home in Worsley, Greater Manchester – where he lived up to just before his death – for £2,000 ‘plus £250 for gardening equipment’.
Despite his years, Mr Johnson had embraced the modern world, using an iPad and computer, posting on Facebook and doing his banking online.
Peter Johnson, Tony’s eldest son, said: ‘Dad certainly lived his life to the full. He had a fantastic innings and most who met him were hugely impressed with his warmth and generosity; and how incredibly independent he was for his age.
Normandy and North Africa veteran Tony Johnson pictured at his home with medals
‘As a family he was always there for every one of us, from me and my brother David, to all his grandchildren, offering wise counsel and of course financial advice.
‘In fact, one of his last concerns was to find out if his pension had reached his bank account!
‘He ran out of steam with as much grace, humility and cheeky humour as his legacy bestows.
‘He left us always wanting more. We are grateful to have had him in our lives and that he passed away in comfort with a smile on his face.’
Mike Adams, a friend and fellow member of the Masonic order in Greater Manchester, also paid tribute to Mr Johnson, a Freemason of 71 years who was a grand officer of the United Grand Lodge of England.
Mr Adams said: ‘In Masonic fellowship we operate around four core values; Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Service. Tony incorporated every single one of these attributes.
‘I like many others were mentored by him. He was highly regarded and set a fine example to all of us, we owe him a great deal.’
Mr Johnson’s death was revealed after Royal Navy veteran Frank Chester, 109, who was believed to be Britain’s oldest World War Two veteran, died on Sunday.
Mr Johnson, who worked in construction after World War Two, was an avid Daily Mail reader
Great Grandfather Mr Chester had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order for wartime bravery.
Mr Johnson’s funeral will take place on May 1, attended by family and members of Manchester’s Freemasons.
He had been called up as a soldier in 1940, experienced his first wartime battles after being transported to the Middle East on requisitioned cruise liner the Queen Mary, which seemed ‘the size of a mountain.’
Crammed six men to a cabin, he was ‘sick as a dog’ as the ship moved towards Iceland, then turned south in a gale, sailing around Cape Horn to Taofik, south of the Suez Canal.
Mr Johnson pictured in his sergeant’s uniform during World War Two
Describing the 1942 Battle of El Alamein, where he faced Italian lines, he said: ‘It started with a barrage of 25 pounders (artillery) firing over our heads towards the Italians, then we advanced through their minefield’.
Desert troops were rationed to just two pints of water per day, so during a rare thunderstorm, he witnessed soldiers stripping off to bathe in the rainwater.
At one point in Egypt, Mr Johnson, who served with the Prince of Wales Volunteers, Green Howards and Durham Light Infantry, succumbed to yellow jaundice from lack of fresh fruit and vegetables.
He was made a sergeant and trained in beach landings – joining Allied landings at Salerno, Italy, in 1943.
Mr Johnson’s medals from wartime, when he fought in North Africa and Normandy
Despite his advanced age, Mr Johnson was independent and had embraced the modern world
Mr Johnson returned to Britain to prepare for the 1944 Normandy landings, arriving at Gold Beach just after D-Day, moving towards Canadian forces at Juno Beach, and working to establish supply routes.
Mr Johnson said wartime was ‘not a nice memory’ and he thinks about ‘all the people who sacrificed their lives’ – but he has given school talks and was interviewed by a historian.
In 2020, he was among surviving Normandy veterans presented the French Legion D’Honneur medal.
Mr Johnson developed his interest in stocks and shares in defiance of his maths teacher, who mocked his first name, Eustace, which he was called after an Edwardian racehorse owner, Eustace Loder.
Read More
D-Day veteran Tony’s secret to staying sharp at 105? Cracking puzzles in the Mail every day!
He said: ‘My maths teacher used to call me ‘useless Eustace Anthony’.
Mr Johnson proved the teacher wrong, passing exams in quantity surveying at night-school after World War Two, then working his way up in the construction industry – where he met Myra, then a ‘very efficient’ typist.
Football fan Mr Johnson was at Wembley for England’s ‘euphoric’ 1966 World Cup Final triumph.
Mr Johnson returned to the national stadium for Manchester United’s 1968 European Cup Final triumph, seeing Bobby Charlton score ‘a fantastic header’.
He and Myra became parents of two sons, Peter, now 65, and David, 63, followed by five grandchildren and, more recently, one great granddaughter.
The couple received a card from Queen Elizabeth on reaching their Diamond wedding anniversary before Myra died in 2021, aged 94.
Further Royal greetings arrived for Mr Johnson’s 100th birthday in 2019 and from King Charles and Queen Camilla on his 105th birthday.
