D-Day veteran Harry Howard given Guard of Honour at his funeral

The life of Henry ‘Harry’ Howard, from Haydock, was celebrated at a service at St Mary Immaculate in Blackbrook on Monday, the same church he had married his late wife Doris.

Navy and army veteran Harry Howard from Haydock died "peacefully" at Heyeswood Retirement Village in Haydock on March 5, shortly before what would have been his 100th birthday.

Harry was one of the first residents and had an active social life.

The Royal British Legion gave Harry a Guard of Honour as his coffin was transported into the church for the service.

Harry's funeral hearse contained flowers spelling out the words 'Dad' and 'Grandad' (Image: St Helens Star)

In his welcome, Father Terence Dooley said to the congregation that “we’re here to thank” Harry.

Hymns I Watch the Sunrise and O Sacred Heart were sung during the service.

Harry Howard (Image: Submitted)

The service heard about Harry’s life, which had seen him work as a welder among several other jobs in his life.

During the Second World War, Harry was a telegraphist and was 21 when he became part of No. 6 Commando, working in observations, liaising with ships and guiding them to direct their gunfire onto inland enemy targets.

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It was said during his military service he visited Burma, India and Japan.

Harry’s medals are the 1939-1945 medal, The France and Germany Star, The Burma Star, Médaille Du Jubilé awarded to Normandy Veterans in Caen in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary of D-Day.

Harry with his Legion d'Honneur (Image: Stock)

He was also awarded the Légion d’Honneur, France’s most prestigious award, in 2018.

It was said how Harry was a “hard-working” man and had a “good sense of humour”.

After he retired at 65 he worked at a social club and was involved with Heyeswood Cinema Club.

Harry with his granddaughter Katie at Remembrance Sunday in 2018 - which his daughter says was one of his favourite pictures (Image: Submitted)

Fr Dooley said: “What a life, brought up in a time I would think there was great poverty, and going into the army, seeing lots of things we would rather not talk about.”

He added: “Let’s just thank God for his life”.  

Recessional hymn Going Home was sang before Harry’s coffin was taken out.

An order of service for Harry's funeral (Image: St Helens Star)

A committal was then held at GreenAcres in Rainford.

Among those Harry leaves behind are children Julie and John, and grandchildren Katie, Andrew, Kayt and Adam.

Harry in 2018 at Katie's graduation in Edinburgh, pictured with Katie and Julie (Image: Submitted)