Tony Wade was born on March 28, 1924. His father was Sir George Wade, of Wade Ceramics.He was offered a place at Cambridge University but opted to join the Army instead.

He joined the Royal Engineers in 1942, before being recruited into the sixth airborne division of the commando force.

He underwent intensive parachute training and became a lieutenant.

For D-Day, the division's task was to secure the beachheads and destroy bridges to allow the Allied troops to land on the beaches safely.

Lieutenant Wade was dropped near Ranville in the early hours of June 6, 1944.

His unit's job was to destroy bridges to prevent German counter-attacks, while other members of the division were given the missions of destroying enemy guns and protecting strategic bridges.