THE exploits of a veteran of the D-Day landings in World War Two could soon be recognised with a granite memorial donated by Prince Charles.

Jim Booth, who is 89 and lives in Gipsy Lane, Taunton, was a member of a top-secret unit trained for covert operations across the world.

The specialist unit was code-named COPP, or Combined Operations Pilotage Parties, and won over 90 medals and commendations in less than three years.

Their exploits have recently been researched by the co-ordinator of the COPP Heroes Memorial Fund, Robin Walton, who has been pushing for a memorial to the men.

He approached Prince Charles who granted himself and Mr Booth a 45-minute audience at Clarence House and promised to donate a large lump of Cornish granite to act as a monument on the beach at Hayling Island in Hampshire.

Mr Booth said: “I had a very cosy chat with Prince Charles over a cup of tea and he was very interested in the work we did.

“The plan was to ask him to put his name to a simple stone statue but he insisted on a much grander lump of granite which should be installed this summer.”

The unit carried out secret reconnaissance work on enemy positions prior to amphibious landings.

On one of those operations Mr Booth was part of the four man crew of a mini-submarine which guided the allied forces onto the Normandy beaches.

Just two of the men survive Jim Booth, then a Lieutenant, and 94-year-old Major Logan Scott-Bowden.