World War Two veteran celebrates 100th birthday
Henry Charles Francis, known affectionately as 'H', served in both the Royal Navy and Royal Marines after joining up aged 16.
At his birthday party, Mr Francis was presented with a personal letter from the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, acknowledging his extraordinary service.
His daughter, Teresa Betton, said: "What he gave for this country, all the friends that he lost… I'm so proud of him. He tells the stories, but not all of them. He signed the secrets act and has stuck by it."
More news stories for Bristol
Watch the latest Points West
Listen to the latest news for Bristol
Mr Francis' family said the day was deeply emotional as they recalled stories of his daring missions.
One tale involved being dropped into the wrong location in what was then Yugoslavia and spending five days finding his way out before being greeted by General Josip Broz Tito, who later became president of the country.
Mr Francis, who lives in South Gloucestershire, was awarded the Yugoslavian military medal, which is one of many honours he earned over the years.
In his letter, Gen Jenkins paid tribute to the "truly courageous" covert operations carried out by Mr Francis.
He also referenced an incident in Burma when Mr Francis was injured by a bayonet before returning to the UK for a time to recover.
Gen Jenkins said: "You are an incredible individual with an abundance of character, and you and all your generation are an inspiration to today's sailors and Royal Marines.
"I am delighted to be able to send you the Royal Navy's best wishes for your 100th birthday."
Asked for the secret to a long life, Mr Francis replied: "Before you argue with a man, make sure you can handle him."
Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Stories similar to this
Celebrations for WW2 RAF veteran's 100th birthday
Veteran appointed MBE days before 100th birthday
100th birthday tribute to AA veteran
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nature reserve was once an industrial landscape of smoke and steam
Found on the Hampshire coast, the Lymington Nature Reserve isn't just a haven for wildlife, it's a place with a history vastly different from today's settings. For over 2,000 years, this area was a hub of sea salt production, with the industry flourishing by medieval times and peaking in the early 18th century with 163 active saltpans. The marshes were an industrial landscape of smoke and steam, a far cry from today's tranquil scenes, as can be seen in these pictures by Echo Camera Club member Trevor Parsons. The last saltern closed in 1865, leaving behind unique archaeological remnants that tell a story of human ingenuity and toil. The pivotal shift towards conservation began in the mid-20th century. The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust started its involvement in 1961, establishing a private nature reserve on 20 acres of salterns. Read more: Bournemouth stonemason stopped bones being stolen from grave Cherished park in Bournemouth shaped by centuries of shared ownership Memories of a much-loved pub that was demolished to make way for flats Mystery of how town's oldest pub got its name The many links between Bournemouth and the Titanic This was swiftly followed by Hampshire County Council's "far-sighted policy" of land acquisition, beginning in 1974, to protect these vital coastal habitats from rapid development. Today, the combined Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Local Nature Reserve spans more than 1200 hectares, a mosaic of mudflats, salt marshes, shingle banks, and saline lagoons. Its ecological importance is underscored by international designations like Ramsar and Special Protection Area status, vital for countless bird species and rare invertebrates. Yet, this dynamic coastal environment faces ongoing challenges, from coastal squeeze and rising sea levels to declining breeding bird populations, highlighting the continuous need for adaptive management and dedicated stewardship.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Massive rat ‘almost the size of a small cat' found inside home
A gargantuan rat that measured a whopping 22 inches was found inside a residence in London, England. Eston Ward Councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin posted about the alarming discovery made in a North Yorkshire neighbourhood — along with a photo of the enormous rodent that resembled the creatures Westley and Buttercup encounter in the Fire Swamp in The Princess Bride. In the July 28 post titled, 'Shocking Size — And A Growing Problem,' the councillors wrote: 'This massive rat over 22 inches long from nose to tail was found inside a local home this weekend.' They continued: 'It's almost the size of a small cat. And it's not a one-off.' The men shared a photo provided by the homeowner of the colossal creature in a clear, plastic bag after pest control made the jaw-dropping discovery. They went on to list how 'rats are being spotted more and more' in the area, but this may be the first time a rodent of this size was found inside a home. 'The longer this is ignored, the worse it will get,' they concluded. 'We need action — not just advice.' In an Aug. 3 follow-up, they noted that this is not the first time their area has experienced a rodent problem, noting that effective actions were taken 'two years' ago. However, 'now, the rats are back, and in even greater numbers,' they wrote. RECOMMENDED VIDEO They also shared a photo of 'rat holes' found at one home, as a fairly large dog curiously hovered over them. In another update, Taylor and Martin noted their hopes of something being done as their community's rodent problem has gone viral. 'PERFECT RAT STORM': Toronto, Ottawa seek ways to fight increasingly visible rodents Rat spotted at window of theatre after health department gives it top mark Rat ambassadors try to counter bad press amid New York City's rat war 'Despite the national headlines, no one from the Council's Labour administration has been in touch but we will push forward this week,' they wrote. 'It affects all our wards or our lives and it's time for action.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prince William & Harry's Inheritance Details Revealed After Reports Nobody Knows ‘How Much Longer' King Charles Has Left to Live
The truth about the British royal family is that, no matter how much people want things to stay the way they are, they can't. Particularly under the current circumstances. The King is sick, so plans for succession need to be made. His illness has also likely precipitated his reconciliation with his youngest son, Prince Harry, which seems to be coming together. And Prince William will inherit the throne, likely sooner or later. But details about what each of King Charles' sons will inherit outside of the obvious are scarce. And one of those inheritance questions has to do with Princess Diana's childhood home, the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire. The late Princess spent some of her childhood holidays there before moving in permanently into the home at 14. More from StyleCaster Harry & Meghan's Ex-Staffer All But Confirmed Rumors They're Moving Back to the UK Amid Claims William Won't 'Welcome Them Back' King Charles Suffers Devastating Setback Amid Reports No One Knows 'How Much Longer' He Has Left to Live Related: Who inherited what from Princess Diana? Almost as importantly, the estate is Princess Diana's final resting place. She was buried in the grounds of the residence at her brother's request. Her grave is located on a small island nicknamed 'The Oval,' in the center of an artificial lake on the estate. Her burial place is not accessible to guests or any member of the public. Considering all of this, is Prince William or Prince Harry getting the estate when King Charles dies? The answer is no. The estate, where Princess Diana grew up with her two older sisters, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane Spencer, and her brother Charles Spencer, belongs to the Spencer family and would not be part of any inheritance from King Charles. It was passed down to Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, and his son, Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, will one day inherit it. That, of course, doesn't mean Prince William and Prince Harry's inheritance isn't expected to be large. But what that inheritance is and when it will come is, of course, still in flux. Recent events, however, have made the question much more prevalent. There is the BBC interview Prince Harry gave, in which he said, 'There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile.' Then there's the fact that a few months ago, a source told News Nation Now that King Charles' health is in decline. 'Charles is indeed a sick man, and he does have cancer,' the source said. 'He also refused chemotherapy and decided on a less invasive treatment. While Harry and his dad aren't speaking, Harry would be aware of all of this via back channels.' Since then, the two sides have taken the first step towards reconciliation. King Charles and Prince Harry's senior aides held a secret meeting, considered the first big step towards resolving the feud between father and son. 'There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years,' said a source. That, couples with recent reports that Prince Harry reportedly invited his family to the next Invictus Games, which are set to be held in the UK in 2027 and reports that the King had factored not only Prince Harry but Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, into the heart of his funeral plans, paint a good picture for the future of the family. What that means for any inheritance, we will have to wait until the time comes to find out. Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways Solve the daily Crossword
