Tanks a lot, Dennis

D-Day hero who kept Churchills firing turns 100

- DAN WARBURTON

A D-DAY veteran has celebrated his 100th birthday ahead of the 80th anniversary of the invasion.

Dennis Lanham served as a senior mechanic with the 79th Armoured Division in the Second World War.

As part of the preparation for the allied invasion of occupied Europe, Dennis was responsible for maintaining a squadron of Churchill tanks fitted with flame throwers.

He is known as Smiler at his care home in Bath, Somerset, and said "everything in moderation" is his secret to a long life. He said: "I am so grateful to be 100. I do like to live cheek by jowl."