World War II Bomb Disposal Expert Dies at 100

Boyd Salmon, a distinguished Royal Navy bomb disposal officer from World War II, has passed away at the age of 100, just before Christmas. Joining the Navy at 17, he served in the Enemy Mining Section, tasked with clearing unexploded ordnance left by German forces, particularly at Sword Beach in Normandy and the Dutch island of Walcheren. His service was cut short due to a severe injury from an explosion that left shrapnel embedded in his stomach. After the war, he became a chartered engineer and enjoyed hobbies such as golf and painting while residing in Lymington. Salmon celebrated his 100th birthday with a helicopter flight over the Solent and received recognition from modern-day naval officers. The Royal Navy commemorated his life and contributions, remarking on the loss of one of the last links to the brave men who sought to secure post-war Europe.