// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Tributes paid to 107-year-old WW2 veteran who has died
The death of WW2 veteran Norman Irwin was announced by his family on on Thursday
Tributes have been paid to World War Two veteran Norman Irwin, from Coleraine, who has died at the age of 107.
The death of Norman Irwin was announced by his family on Thursday.
Norman Irwin, who was born in 1918 and was understood to be Northern Ireland's oldest living person before his passing, served in eight countries during WW2 and played a vital role in protecting the Suez Canal from German attacks.
In 2025, he was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for a range of voluntary work in his County Londonderry hometown, including at a cross-community club for retirees.
Chris Irwin, Norman's grandson, said his grandfather was a hero
Norman's grandson, Chris Irwin said: "It is with profound sadness that our family announces the passing of my grandfather, Sergeant Norman Irwin BEM.
"A proud WWII veteran who served across North Africa and Italy with the Coleraine Battery, Royal Artillery and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), Norman was Ireland and Northern Ireland's oldest man, a British Empire Medal recipient, and a pillar of the local community.
"To the world, he was a hero and a piece of history, but to us, he was simply Papa. His warmth, wit and wisdom guided our family for generations, always with a glass of Bushmills.
"Norman exemplified the REME motto, Arte et Marte ('By Skill and By Fighting').