Enfield D-Day hero Donald dies aged 105

Donald Howkins helped liberate Europe in 1944 with the 90^th Middlesex Regiment of the Royal Artillery

Donald Howkins pictured at his 105th birthday party earlier this year

Enfield’s last D-Day veteran has died aged 105.

Donald Howkins – who carried a piece of shrapnel in his leg for the rest of his life after being wounded during the liberation of Europe in 1944 – passed peacefully at his Forty Hill care home, Elsyng House, on Wednesday (26th).

Donald was a motorbike dispatch rider with the 90^th Middlesex Regiment of the Royal Artillery during the Normandy landings of June 1944. He landed on Gold Beach, aged just 23, and then went on to help liberate Nazi-occupied France and other parts of Europe.

After facing combat as a gunner in Tilly-sur-Seulles, Donald moved through Belgium and the Netherlands with his unit, as the liberation of Europe continued. He was injured in December 1944 but miraculously he, and his four brothers, all survived the war.

Following his service in the war, Donald and his wife, Dorothy, moved to Winchmore Hill where they brought up their three children.

Donald returned to being a butcher, and became the managing director of a company that boasted shops all over London. Among its 14 locations, Buckingham & Partners had shops in Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green and Edmonton prior to its closure in 1992, when Donald retired.

Donald was awarded the Legion d’honneur, the highest French order of merit, on the 70^th anniversary of D-Day in 2014.

While Donald had been reluctant to talk about the war for most of his life, in later years he embraced his past and spoke to the Dispatch about his memories in 2023, describing D-Day as “very frightening”.

In recent years Donald also visited local schools and youth groups in Enfield to share his story.

On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, last year, Donald even became a TikTok star after a video of him visiting Enfield War Memorial and paying tribute to his “lost friends” went viral.

And for his 105th birthday earlier this year, Elysng House hosted a big celebration for Donald. He received almost 350 handmade cards thanks to the efforts of local schoolchildren.

Donald had lived at Elsyng House for the last three-and-a-half years of his life, where he enjoyed a daily tot of whiskey. When he initially arrived, staff had no idea about Donald’s past, and only realised he was a D-Day veteran when they saw his medals on Remembrance Sunday in 2023.

“It was a true honour and privilege to have Donald as part of our home and to care for such an extraordinary gentleman,” said Alina Simon, general manager of Elsyng House.

“His courage, kindness, wonderful memories and stories touched the hearts of residents, families and team members alike. We will miss his smile and his presence, and his legacy and service will always be remembered. Our deepest condolences are with Donald’s family and loved ones at this very sad time.”

A celebration of Donald’s life is being planned at Elsyng House.

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