Tributes are being paid to a Second World War D-Day veteran who 'leaves behind an incredible legacy' after his death at the age of 97. Dougie Farrington landed on Gold Beach in Normandy, France, 19 days after D-Day in June, 1944. He was just 18.
Just eight months later, as the Allies advanced into Germany, he was shot in the leg by a German sniper in the Reichswald Forest after being separated from the rest of his division. He crawled inside a pigsty, where he put on a field dressing and waited to be rescued, revealed the Royal British Legion as they paid tribute to a 'bubbly and infectious character'.
Among his many medals Dougie, from Chadderton, Oldham, was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, the highest French military honour, in recognition of his service to liberate Europe.
He died on February 18 after a short illness and his funeral was held on Thursday at Hollinwood Crematorium, with full standard bearers.
In an interview with the Royal British Legion in 2019, Dougie said: "My Mum was very unhappy about me signing up, but I knew Hitler was evil, he wanted to make everyone slaves, and I didn't like that. People should be free to do what they want and enjoy life."
Dougie served with the seventh battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers - his role as a first-class machine gunner earned him an extra three pence per week. His battalion fought their way through Normandy and Holland to join the Battle of the Bulge which started on December 26 ,1944 - his 19th birthday. He spent the majority of the day alone in a trench on lookout for German parachutists.
Dougie recalled: "It was bitterly cold with 6ft drifts of snow and the Germans all had white suits, you couldn’t see them, and they were picking our lads off like flies, but we did the best we could."
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News in May 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, he said he got word the war was over in a rehab unit as he nervously waited for news on whether he would be transferred back to the front.
Dougie said: "I had a job to do and I did it. And I was glad to give people back their freedom, so they could laugh, dance and enjoy themselves, like I do. Under Hitler, you wouldn't have been able to do that.
"The surgeon told me if the shot had been quarter of an inch lower, I would've lost my foot. I told him, 'I'm glad you saved it, I like a dance'."
Dougie left the Army in 1947 after serving in Dusseldorf when the war ended. He met his future wife, Alice, at a dance. They had two daughters, Anne and Fay, and a son, Melvin. Alice died aged 85 after the couple had been married for 66 years.
His daughter Anne and Fay said in a statement: "Dad was such a character, he loved life, and he lived life to the full, especially in his later years. He made many good friends both at home and abroad and he will be sadly missed."
Dougie collected for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal for 22 years. Stuart Steel, Membership Engagement Officer for the Royal British Legion, said he was a huge supporter of the charity in Oldham.
"He was a bubbly and infectious character, and he leaves behind an incredible legacy," Mr Steel said. "All our thoughts are with Dougie's family and friends."
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