A WAR hero who received the Legion d’Honneur for liberating France on D-Day has died at the age of 93.

The funeral of David Banks, from Widnes, is being held at St Basil and All Saints Church on Hough Green Road at 11am tomorrow, Friday, January 12.

David, from Cherry Sutton, Hough Green, joined the 5th King’s Infantry Regiment when he was 18.

After passing his driving test at Hadrian’s Camp in Carlisle, he was invited to play a key role in the D-Day Landings with a new platoon of amphibious transport.

He learnt how to drive the so-called ‘ducks’ – double utility kraft water-borne (DUKW) and set out for France on June 6, 1944.

Before he died on Boxing Day, David often used to talk about his war experienced and described the horrors he witnessed in great detail.

Recalling the dramatic D-Day military operation, he said: “The Navy were shelling over our heads while Jerry was firing at Juno beach but falling short.

“I was very upset for the infantrymen who were struggling in the water. About a dozen men were hanging onto my DUKW.

“I was very glad to help them and tow them in. It was a good feeling to see them safe.”

David’s niece Olwyn Lynas wants her uncle’s heroism to be recognised.

She said: “He wasn’t scared of the guns. He drove soldiers onto the beach. They were terrified and he let them hold onto his amphibious craft.

“He received the Legion D’Honneur last year. We presented it to him in hospital as he was too ill to attend a ceremony.”

Retired gas fitter lost his wife Molly in 2003 and looked after himself until he was 90.

David was a Liverpool supporter and liked listening to Irish country music.

“He loved his garden,” said Olwyn. “He enjoyed pottering round in his shed and doing DIY.

“He loved talking about the war. We are very proud of him.

"He was a lovely gentleman and a very very caring person.

He was loved by everyone.”