A NORMANDY landings veteran described as a "one-off and totally unique" has died aged 90.


Ronald Lyle, 90, of Miskin Green, Llanyrafon, Cwmbran, served with the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division from 1942, known as the Polar Bears.


Mr Lyle died at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport on March 28 following a long illness.


Born in Plymouth, Devon, Mr Lyle, was an apprentice baker on the Hoe when the war broke out and he was called up for national service.


As a young soldier who drove the vehicle that pulled the guns he was posted to Pontypool where he met his wife of 70 years, Barbara.


Mrs Lyle had been to a concert at St James Church Hall with friends when they were caught in a thunderstorm. Mr Lyle and his friends lent them their capes and walked them home. 

 

Romance blossomed and the couple married at Trevethin Church on March 21, 1943, the couple settling in Penygarn.


On June 9, 1944 Mr Lyle landed in Normandy on Gold Beach as part of the invasion of Arromanches.
He returned home after the war and the couple moved into one of the first homes to be built at Miskin Green more than 50 years ago.


Mr Lyle joined the 158 Infantry Workshops REME in May 1950 and was honoured for his part in the liberation with a 'Medaille de Jubile' presented on the 50th anniversary of the invasion.


He held several jobs  including as a milkman, at the former Star Brick and Tile, Ponthir and  as a long-distance driver for Crompton's Batteries.


He was a member of Cwmbran and District Ex-Servicemen's Association (CADESA) and the couple also ran the Llanyrafon Senior Citizen's Club.


Mrs Lyle said: "He was a one-off and totally unique."
 

His goddaughter Hazel Ilett, 34, said: "He was the kindest most generous caring person who was like a father to us."
 

She added: "I have wonderful memories of he and Barbara taking us camping for a week each summer to places like Breen Sands."
 

"He would do anything for anyone."
 

Friend, David Thomas, 78, said: "He was always very cheerful. He was a lovely man and was always a laugh and ready to have a joke."
 

His funeral will be held at Llanyrafon Methodist Church, Llanyrafon Way on April 12 at 12.15pm followed by Gwent Crematorium at 1.30pm. Refreshments at the Territorial Army Centre on Ty Coch Way, Cwmbran.


Gold Beach was the code name of one of the D-Day landing beaches that Allied forces used to invade German-occupied France during the Second World War.
 

Until the Germans surrendered in May 1945, the Division was almost continually in action.
 

Mr Lyle was wounded by shrapnel just outside Caen, near the Falais Gap and flown to Ballockmyle Hospital, Scotland.
 

He was later posted back to France to Versailles from 1944 to 1946 before being moved to Reima, Frankfurt and Hamburg to be demobbed in York in 1946.