{
  "id": 4266163,
  "title": "Normandy veteran who lied about age to enlist dies at 101",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/normandy-veteran-who-lied-about-age-to-enlist-dies-at-101",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T19:49:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5z3e64vpyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Donald Turrell, a World War Two veteran who fought in the Normandy campaign, has died at the age of 101, according to a charity. Born in London in 1925, Turrell lied about his age to enlist at just 17, forging a letter from his parents to state that he was 18. He crossed to France in June 1944, landing on Sword Beach and participating in intense combat. Turrell, who lived in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, passed away on Friday, surrounded by his family, as shared by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans on Facebook. The charity's vice president, Dick Goodwin, described Turrell as \"incredibly special\" and expressed gratitude for the time the charity had known him. In a previous interview, Turrell revealed that he had lied about his age to join the army and had always wanted to serve his country. The war ended for him on July 10, 1944, after he was seriously injured during fighting near Eterville. Turrell, who lost several close friends during the campaign, including his older brother Leslie who died when HMS Penelope was sunk off the Italian coast in February 1944, will be remembered with affection and gratitude.",
  "summary": "A veterans' charity says Donald Turrell will be remembered with \"enormous affection and gratitude\".",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}