A D-Day veteran who previously danced with the Duchess of Cornwall remains in a serious condition in hospital following a suspected claw hammer attack.
Jim Booth, 96, answered a call at the door of his home in Gipsy Lane in Taunton, Somerset, on Wednesday afternoon.
The cold caller asked Mr Booth whether he wanted any work done and attacked the Royal Navy veteran when he refused.
It is believed a claw hammer was used to attack Mr Booth, who suffered serious injuries to his head and body.
He managed to raise the alarm with a neighbour before being taken to hospital. A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated burglary.
Mr Booth, who was Croix de Guerre military medal by the French for his gallantry during World War Two, is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
His local MP Rebecca Pow, who represents Taunton Deane, said: “I was horrified to hear about the dreadful unprovoked attack on a constituent of mine, Jim Booth.
“We are so indebted to people like him, for the role they played in the security of our nation.”
Jim Booth (holding wreath) standing with the Prince of Wales and veterans at a memorial to the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties Memorial Fund heroes (PA)
Mr Booth joined the Royal Navy as a seaman at the age of 18, serving throughout the war.
He became part of the Combined Operations Pilotage and Reconnaissance Parties (COPP).
The COPP wartime military base was set up on Hayling Island in Hampshire in 1943 under the instruction of Lord Mountbatten. Small teams of sailors and soldiers were trained as frogmen and canoeists for covert beach explorations prior to landings on enemy occupied territory.
They were trained to search selected coastlines to ensure the safe landing of tanks and heavy armoured vehicles on enemy land.
Mr Booth became a submarine pilot for the X-craft – tiny submarines that waited on the seabed for days at a time – at the age of 23. His team sailed from Portsmouth to Normandy to scout out where the British could safely land.
On D-Day, Mr Booth climbed into a fold-up canoe and shone a beacon out to sea to guide Allied craft safely to shore.
He was later awarded the Croix de Guerre military medal by the French for his gallantry.
Speaking about his role, Mr Booth told the BBC in 2011: “This operation was special, because Normandy was special and unique, and it was critical in winning the war.”
In July 2015, Mr Booth laid a wreath beside one placed by the Prince of Wales at a service on Hayling Island to pay tribute to those who served in the COPP.
The following month, he joined Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at a reception in the grounds of Westminster Abbey. During the party, which was hosted by the Royal British Legion, Mr Booth took to the floor for a dance with Camilla.