A Second World War veteran described D-Day as a “big adventure” as he spoke of how his fears eased once he landed on a beach in Normandy.

Donald Howkins, 103, of London, was an apprentice butcher in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, when war broke out. But by May 1944, he was heading to the front line.

He was a gunner in the 90th Middlesex Regiment and landed on Gold Beach in northern France on D-Day on June 6 1944.

The veteran said he was initially scared when getting off the boat as he arrived, but his fears left him as he focused on what he had to do next.

Speaking at an event organised by the Spirit of Normandy Trust, Mr Howkins said: “When I got off the boat, down the rope ladders, it was very frightening because the boat was moving, the barge was moving.

“But when I landed on the beach, things calmed down.

“You were doing what you were supposed to do – that took all your time.

“You never thought about yourself – you were thinking about what you had to do to get off that beach and it wasn’t scary at all.

“I didn’t feel frightened, it was more like a big adventure.”

The former gunner described seeing “a load of old broken down vehicles” and “dead cows lying all over the place” near Arromanches in France once he landed.

Mr Howkins chuckled and continued: “We just accepted it and that was it.

“And I must say, the regimental cook soon got the tea churn going for a cup of tea!”