Lieutenant Jim Booth, a special forces command whose top secret operation launched the D-Day assault on Sword Beach, is in Portsmouth today for the national commemorations and will travel to Normandy later this week to further honour the D-Day landings. But last summer it wasn’t clear whether the Royal Navy veteran would be able to attend the 75th anniversary event, as a burglar left him with two depressed skull fractures. The 97-year-old was hit six times in the head with a claw hammer after forcing his way into the property and still suffers excruciating headaches as a result of his injuries. Related articles Donald Trump joins Queen for D-Day landings commemoration D-Day anniversary: Queen gives HEARTFELT speech thanking 'FREE WORLD' Mr Booth was brutally attacked at his Taunton home in November 2017 after his 40-year-old assailant forced himself into the veteran’s home, on the pretence he was a builder. He was jailed in 2018 for 20 years for attempted murder. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Booth said: “He left me for dead but I suppose I was lucky. “Surviving the war was pure luck and this was the same again.” Jim Booth was awarded the Croix de Guerre for outstanding gallantry (Image: Getty) Recalling the attack the veteran remembers being “bashed about the head” before waking up “covered in blood” and crawling to a neighbour’s house to raise the alarm. He added: “They told me from the fractures on my hands that I must have hit him back.” Mr Booth joined the Royal Navy aged 18 and served throughout the Second World War. His actions at D-Day played a vital role in ensuring the success of the landings, as he was aboard one of two miniature submarines tasked with being the first British vessels to reach Sword Beach directing the massed armada. Related articles D-Day anniversary: Why is Portsmouth service today? US ambassador sparks outrage for using PHONE during Queen D-Day speech Mr Booth is among the hundreds of Normandy veterans attending the national commemorations (Image: Getty) Mr Booth joins the Queen and other world leaders at the Portsmouth commemoration (Image: PA) Mr Booth was awarded the Croix de Guerre for outstanding gallantry. He is among the hundreds of Normandy veterans attending the national commemorations in Portsmouth today, attended by the Queen, and 16 world leaders. Tonight he joins 250 other veterans aboard the Royal British Legion-chartered ship MS Boudicca which sets sail for Normandy. His daughter, Vicky, who is accompanying her father back to Normandy, believes it is his iron will which has enabled his recovery. She said: “He just pushes his way through things and always thinks of others before himself. “I’m so proud of him. He is our family hero.”All rights reserved for this news site express.co.uk and under his responsibility