Former florist Vera Blundell, who has died just weeks after celebrating her 101st birthday, was visiting a car boot sale seven years ago when she made the discovery.

As reported in the Daily Echo at the time, she unearthed a rallying cry issued by General Montgomery to the soldiers under his command.

Written just before the Normandy invasion on June 6 1944 it said: “The time has come to deal the enemy a terrific blow in Western Europe.”

Speaking at the time, Vera said it was in a box of odds and ends she bought for £2.

She added: “I went back to the seller and they told me they had got it in the same way - at a car boot sale. It must have been going around from person to person without anyone really noticing its significance.”

The message is thought to have been written at Southwick House, near Fareham, where the main Allied commanders were based during the build-up to the invasion.

Romsey-born Vera went to Cadnam Infant School and then on to Totton High School as her father managed Bartley Nurseries.

She was working at International Stores in Totton when she met her future husband, Harold Blundell. They went on to have three children and were together for 58 years until Harold’s death in 1999.

The couple ran a Totton fruit and veg shop owned by Harold’s father before turning it into a successful florists and acquiring a second business.

Blundell Florist traded for eighty years under the Blundell family and was sold in 2007.

In 1994 Vera became president of Totton and District Gardeners’ Society.

She lived at Woodlands Road, Ashurst, before moving to Hartwood House care home in Lyndhurst, where she died peacefully last week.

Vera celebrated her 101st birthday in February by taking part in a Zoom party organised by the staff.

Speaking at the time, she said: “It was lovely to see my children and grandchildren and to share my birthday with them.”

Vera had also hit the headlines as she turned 100, although it was only her 25th birthday as she was born on February 29.