David Teacher, a World War II Royal Air Force veteran who served as a mechanic during the Normandy landings, has passed away at the age of 100, days before the 80th anniversary of D-Day. His remarkable service and dedication to veterans’ causes left a lasting impact.
David Teacher, a 100-year-old D-Day veteran, passed away on May 24, just days before the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. Born in Hastings, East Sussex, Teacher served as a mechanic with the RAF during World War II. He was among the first to arrive on Juno Beach in the 1944 Normandy landings, where he drove a Bedford QL truck under heavy bombardment. He spent three months on the beach, maintaining vehicles, managing supplies, and aiding troops.
Teacher also served in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium later that year. The extreme cold conditions he endured are believed to have contributed to circulatory problems that led to the amputation of his legs later in life.
After being demobilized in 1946, he continued to support veterans’ causes and was awarded an MBE in 2012 for his charity work. Teacher returned to Normandy several times for memorial events, the most recent being the 73rd anniversary of D-Day in 2017. He was survived by his daughter Lesley, along with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
