Emotional moment a family surprises a D Day veteran with a party to celebrate his 100th birthday



A D-Day veteran who was shot by a tank appeared overcome by emotion as he celebrated his 100th birthday at a surprise party organised by his family.

Bill Gladden was 20 years old when he flew into Normandy on a military glider with a tank and six motorbikes on June 6, 1944.

He moved to an orchard just outside the French village of Ranville, near the strategically important Pegasus Bridge that the 6th Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment was tasked with protecting.

But he was severely injured when he was shot in the leg by a German tank 12 days after he arrived.

He was flown back to the UK and spent the following three years in hospital.

He turns 100 on Saturday, and his family organised a surprise party for him on Friday.

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