Decorated Second World War veteran Stanley Rickeard has returned to his beloved Isle of Wight, visiting the Wight Military and Heritage Museum just weeks before his 101st birthday.
For Stanley Rickeard, the Isle of Wight has long been more than just a holiday destination. It is somewhere he has loved returning to for many years and remains his favourite place to visit.
With a son, daughter-in-law and 2 step-grandchildren living in Cowes, Stan’s latest trip included a visit to the Wight Military and Heritage Museum at Northwood, where he enjoyed exploring the exhibits and chatting with volunteers. He was particularly interested in the Britten-Norman Islander.
The visit comes just weeks before Stan celebrates his 101st birthday on 14th September, capping a remarkable life that has taken him from the Normandy campaign and the Far East to helping develop technology associated with Concorde.
Born in 1925, Stan was only 18 when he joined the Royal Navy Cadets in 1943 before entering the Royal Navy the following year. After initially hoping to join the RAF, he instead found himself training for amphibious operations at HMS Glendower in North Wales, where strict secrecy surrounded preparations for the Allied invasion of Europe.
Still a teenager, Stan was posted to Landing Ship Tank (LST) 199. These huge vessels formed the backbone of the Allied supply effort after D-Day, carrying troops, tanks, vehicles, ammunition and vital supplies across the English Channel to support the armies fighting their way inland.
In the days and weeks after the landings, Stan made repeated crossings to Normandy. His wartime diary recalls delivering reinforcements before returning to Britain with wounded servicemen, while later voyages also carried German prisoners of war. He also remembered seeing the enormous Mulberry Harbours, the temporary ports that allowed thousands of vehicles and millions of tonnes of supplies to be unloaded despite the destruction of France’s major ports.
With victory in Europe secured, Stan’s service continued in the Far East. Expecting to take part in the planned invasion of Japanese-held Malaya, he instead found himself helping rescue Allied prisoners of war after Japan surrendered, bringing an end to nearly 2 years of wartime service.
For his service, Stan received the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Burma Star with Pacific Clasp, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. Decades later, France appointed him a Chevalier of the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur in recognition of his contribution to the liberation of the country.
After the war, Stan joined IBM as a draughtsman, later contributing to electronic systems associated with Concorde before retiring in 1980. His wartime experiences were later recorded in a limited-edition family book, incorporating extracts from the diaries he kept throughout the conflict.
Stan’s son, Matt Rickeard, said:
“Dad loved the Wight Military and Heritage Museum and found it fascinating. He was particularly interested in the Britten-Norman Islander. He can still walk but unfortunately gets tired quite quickly. Even so, he’s determined to keep going.”
Now preparing to celebrate his 101st birthday, Stan is a proud father of 3 sons, grandfather to 7 and great-grandfather to 6, with another great-grandchild due later this year. A generous supporter of charities including Mountbatten Hospice, his latest visit was another reminder of the special place the Isle of Wight continues to hold in his life.
