Royal salute to D-Day hero who forced Labour into humiliating cash climbdown

Naval hero Peter Kent capped a remarkable week by celebrating his 100th birthday with a message from the King and Queen at a glittering bash.

The dogged D-Day braveheart raised a glass at a party held in his honour after forcing the Government into a humiliating veterans cash climbdown.

The gathering at the Union Jack Club in London was a fitting end to a glorious week for the greatest generation.

Faced with the prospect of no financial assistance for their annual pilgrimage to commemorate the Normandy invasion of June 6, 1944, despite an earlier promise of money, Peter described the desertion of wartime heroes as a "betrayal".

His words prompted a hasty about-turn and an assurance of funding, but no apology.

Wheelchair-bound Peter from Pimlico, London, is one of a handful of veterans making an emotional return to Northern France with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.

In June it will be 81 years since he was a crewman on HMS Adventure a support and repair vessel that helped troops, supplies and reinforcements land on Gold Beach at Arromanches via the Mulberry Harbour towed across the Channel from Britain.

The prefabricated concrete blocks became known as Port Winston, named after wartime leader Winston Churchill, and ferried 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles and four million tonnes of supplies ashore as British troops stormed Nazi-occupied France.

The monuments remain today as ghostly figures in the water, witnesses to the biggest invasion in military history.

Peter, who was 21 on D-Day, said: "I was with the landing parties on the beach. Taking things onto the Mulberry - in and out.

"It is so sad that so many boys got killed and so sad to see all the memorials when I return."

After the invasion Able Seaman Peter travelled to Canada to join HMS Hartland Point which helped return troops back to Britain.

The Taxi Charity is taking 25 heroes to Holland for the 80th anniversary of Dutch liberation next month and then to Normandy in June. Facilitating the visits will cost it upwards of £100,000.

After being told there was no money, reneging on a promise, hero Peter told the Express: "I watched friends fall beside me fighting for freedom. We gave everything. To be told the Government would help us honour them this year, only to have that promise torn away, feels like a betrayal. This isn't just a funding cut - it's the ultimate snub to those who never came home."

His searing words sparked nationwide anger at the Government and plunged Number 10 into crisis.

But just hours later the Ministry of Defence confirmed travel, accommodation and welfare costs for veterans, plus a carer each, will be fully funded for commemorations in Europe this summer, including D-Day.

At Saturday's gala celebrations Peter was honoured with a gold-embossed card from the King and Queen which contained a hand-signed greeting that read: "We are so pleased to know you are celebrating your one hundredth birthday. This brings our warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on such a special occasion."

The warrior was joined by Taxi Charity volunteer cabbies, friends and family, including sons Stephen and John.

John said: "Dad has a heart bigger than himself and would spend his last pound note and shilling on anyone else. He's helped others all his life."