WORLD War Two veteran Bob Crudass managed to Keep Smiling Through his tears at a celebration for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Bob, 94, a resident of Colten Care’s Belmore Lodge in Lymington, was a special guest at Keep Smiling Through - A Celebration for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day at the Regent Centre in Christchurch.

The show, by the Gladrag Production Company, featured singers and dancers celebrating the music of the 1940s, from Vera Lynn to Flanagan and Allen and Glenn Miller.

Bob, who served in the Royal Marines from 1942-1949, received special thanks from the cast for his service and a rousing round of applause from the audience.

The show programme also paid tribute to the veteran, citing his role as a Coxswain in charge of a D-Day landing craft from the Spanish ship Arosa Kuln.

Colten Care’s Music & Arts Partner Fiona Pritchard, who accompanied Bob to the theatre said: “On June 6, 1944, Bob and his crew made several successful landings of Canadian soldiers onto Juno Beach, before returning safely to port, something of which he is justifiably very proud.”

Fiona added: “Bob is such a modest man, but when the audience learned what he had done during D-Day and saw his emotion, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

“The joy we have all experienced today through the music and dancing, together with the thankfulness expressed for Bob and all those others who served alongside him is something which will stay with us all for a very long time.”

Belmore Lodge Manager Julie House agreed: “We are honoured to have such a great and unassuming character within our home. He spent time helping others and we are now very happy to help him.”

In 1947 Bob was also aboard the Battleship Vanguard, loving known as the ‘Guard’s Van’ escorting the Queen, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne back from the Royal Tour of South Africa.”

Following the show, a clearly emotional Bob said: “It was lovely to be thanked here today, but the honour of serving my country was all mine.

“Listening to the music and seeing the dancing was a wonderful way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of D-Day and I feel very lucky to still be here to see it.”