Street named after beloved D-Day veteran

19 December 2025

Shivani Chaudhari

News image — Don Sheppard said he could never forget what he saw during World War Two

Stuart Woodward/BBC Don Sheppard, aged 103, smartly dressed in a black coat and adorned with medals. He is outside with grass and trees behind him. — Don Sheppard said he could never forget what he saw during World War Two

A street has been named in memory of a World War Two veteran who took part in the D-Day landings.

Donald "Don" Sheppard, from Basildon in Essex, landed on Juno Beach on 6 June 1944 as a Royal Engineer and died at 104 years old last year.

Housing provider Sempra Homes named its new Broadmayne development Sheppard Mews in honour of Mr Sheppard.

"He would never have thought he was a hero, we were just very blessed to have him for such a long time unlike some people who did not come back from the war," said his eldest daughter Jackie Scott, who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

"It's taking me a while to realise that his name and my former name is going to live on and I hope people do take the chance to look up who he was and what he did."

Speaking to BBC Essex mid-morning presenter Ben Fryer, she continued: "He was a very caring man for his fellow veterans; he never saw himself as old."

Another of Mr Sheppard's daughters, Joanna O'Brien, said the family was "deeply proud and honoured".

"This recognition means a great deal to our family and reflects the love and respect the community had for him," added Ms O'Brien.

Family Photo An old black and white photo from World War Two with Don riding a motorbike with a man, both smiling — Don Sheppard, who served with the Royal Engineers, rode motorbikes during World War Two

Mr Sheppard served in north Africa and Sicily prior to D-Day, when he was serving with the Royal Engineers 51st Highland Division.

He had described the beaches being littered with the bodies of fallen Canadian soldiers, before fighting his way inland to reach Pegasus Bridge.

Mr Sheppard told the BBC "shells were coming over like rain" and: "We, the survivors, were lucky really."

After breaking through Nazi lines in the August, he continued through to Belgium, the Netherlands and eventually Germany - including to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

In 2019 he was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Basildon, and a few months before his death, he was escorted to the Living Memorial in Rettendon by police escort for an 80th D-Day anniversary service.

Mrs Scott added: "He didn't want people to forget the trauma and the loss of that and that is why he is being honoured now - for his determination for us never to forget."