D-Day Commemoration

June 6 2024 marks the 80^th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy landings. While many OAs took part in these operations, only one died on D-Day itself. Today we tell his story as a mark of respect for his service to the nation.

Sub-Lieutenant Julian Roney was born in  1920 and attended Dulwich College from 1931-36. On leaving Dulwich he joined a company of paper manufacturers, Wiggins Teape & Co. He joined the Royal Navy in 1940, serving on Atlantic Convoys. In 1944 he was placed in command of a landing craft, LTC (A) 2191, which was attached to the Sword Beach landings. The landing craft carried Centaur and Sherman tanks onto the beach-head where it came under fire from an 88mm German anti-tank gun. Sub-Lieutenant Roney was able to order his own men to return fire before the craft was hit. The second German shell then hit the bridge killing Roney instantly and most of the rest of the crew were also killed as the craft became trapped on the beach.

Age 24 when he died, Sub-Lieutenant Julian Roney was Mentioned in Dispatches. He is buried at Hermanville War Cemetery (I. E. 15).