The Royal Naval Association appeal for birthday cards for war veteran turning 100
The Royal Naval Association is calling for well-wishers to send birthday cards to Dougie Shelley, a Second World War veteran who served in the Arctic Convoys, to make his 100th birthday extra special.
Dougie, who joined the Royal Navy at just 17, served as a seaman gunner and earlier this year, he poignantly said: "There's not many of us left." The Southend sailor was on a ship in Hong Kong when news broke of Germany's surrender, and previously shared that it "couldn't have been better".
"The war killed so many people it's unbelievable," he reflected. "All around, the Americans, Russians, all the Allies, the same with the Germans. But you were doing a job, the same as they had to. It's either kill or be killed. When we heard about victory in Europe, everybody got together and we all had a good old drink up and jolly up, and couldn't welcome it much better."
Dougie, who has no known surviving family, will celebrate his 100th birthday on September 23.
John Hawes, chairman of the Southend branch of the Royal Naval Association, is urging people to send birthday cards for Dougie, which will be gathered at the local branch and presented to him at a party on his big day.
John, 76, revealed that Dougie is the branch's "last Arctic convoy veteran and also he was at D-Day". Mr Shelley's carer, Paul Bennett, shared that Mr Shelley served on the HMS Milne on D-Day, "supporting the chaps going off to land in craft ashore in Normandy and he was a gunner keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft".
Mr Hawes revealed that the veteran had previously held various roles within the local branch, including chairman, secretary and treasurer, but "as he got older he had to stop some of those jobs".
He said: "He's always been there, he's always got a smile, he always wants to chat. He really deserves something, he has been one of our founder members way back in 1980 I think it was when the actual club opened. He's always been with us on the Remembrance Sunday in his wheelchair and somebody's pushed him up to the cenotaph at Southend."
He is hoping to gather at least 100 birthday cards for Mr Shelley. He said: "I think he's going to thoroughly enjoy it, he really will, he'll be over the moon," said Mr Hawes.
"Dougie always likes to let everybody know he's there and this will blow his socks off I think."
Mr Hawes, who was a chef and baker on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, is set to bake Mr Shelley's birthday cake – a Victoria sandwich. He mentioned that Mr Shelley "does like his tot of rum" and that this would be offered to guests, with a bottle of Pusser's Rum presented to the veteran.
Mr Hawes requested for birthday cards for Mr Shelley to be sent to the Royal Naval Association club, 73-79 East Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6LQ.
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