War hero who ignored orders to save seven lives during D-Day landings dies aged 99
A war hero who ignored orders to save seven lives during the D-Day landings has died aged 99.
Royal Marines Cpl Jack Quinn was a helmsman on a landing craft that transported frogmen goal mines Normandy beaches.
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In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 19-year-old ignored orders to rescue the French crew from a burning boat.
He was rewarded with a Croix de Guerre for heroism, France's version of the Victoria Cross.
And Jack was the first Allied fighter to arrive Guernsey when the island was liberated on May 9, 1945.
After the war the father of six, out Sheffieldworked as a truck driver.
He later moved to Mablethorpe, Lincsand said of his war heroics: 'I was just doing my job.
“Many other men did brave things, but no one saw them do it.”
Last year he became ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.
He was the last surviving member of the Sheffield Normandy Veterans Association to serve on D-Day.
The group's secretary, Graham Askham, said: 'It's so sad that we have now lost them all.
“I want to thank Jack and everyone else for what they have done for this country.”