Family of WWII hero and great-great-grandfather, 95, who lost his arm on D-Day can’t give him the funeral he deserves because of coronavirus lockdown
- Rex Blood was hit in the arm as his unit landed in Normandy in June 1944
- He was amputated and survived cancer in the decades that followed
- Recently he was suffering heart problems, passed away peacefully in his sleep
- His family are unable to give him funeral he deserves due to coronavirus
The family of a Second World War hero who lost his arm in the D-Day landings cannot give him the funeral he deserves because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Rex Blood was hit in the arm as his unit landed in Normandy in June 1944 as the Allies began their efforts to drive back the forces of Nazi Germany.
His arm was amputated two weeks later and in the decades that followed Rex also survived cancer.
Rex Blood (pictured) was hit in the arm as his unit landed in Normandy in June 1944 as the Allies began their efforts to drive back the forces of Nazi Germany. His arm was amputated two weeks later and in the decades that followed Rex also survived cancer
In recent years Rex had been suffering with heart problems and he passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Enderby on Friday, March 27.
He was 95 years old, and left behind his wife Ivy, two daughters – Joy and Debra – as well as four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
His granddaughter Laura, 28, said his funeral would take place on Wednesday, April 8, at Countesthorpe Crematorium but due to coronavirus restrictions only 10 family members would be in attendance.
She said: ‘We are saddened by his passing and this is worsened by the current coronavirus crisis which is looking to rob him of the send-off he deserves.
Rex Blood, the D-Day veteran from Enderby who passed away aged 95
‘Of Rex’s large family and an even larger network of lives he has touched, only 10 people will be permitted to attend his funeral.
‘It’s so sad we can’t have everyone there.’
Rex and Ivy, who is 95, were both welfare officers for the Blesma, a charity for veterans who have lost limbs, and many friends would have wanted to attend the funeral.
Rex met Ivy in a pub on her 21st birthday and March 29 this year would have been their 73rd wedding anniversary.
Describing her grandfather, Laura said: ‘He was wonderful and always really, really family-oriented’
Laura said: ‘Rex was sent home after his arm was amputated and they found him a bed at a hostel in Leicestershire.
‘One night he was at the pub. He raced pigeons and my Grandma’s father spotted his pigeon flyer’s badge and they got talking.’
Describing her grandfather, Laura said: ‘He was wonderful and always really, really family-oriented.
‘Whenever anything needed doing he was there and he was the head of the family.
‘He often spoke about D-Day and we never tired of hearing his stories about it.’