Harry Francis had a 100th birthday surprise when the Royal Marines delivered a personal message from the First Sea Lord at his party.
Harry, who lives in Soundwell, was joined by around 40 relatives and friends at the party at Pucklechurch Village Sports & Social Club, the day before his birthday on July 21.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Kedward, the commanding officer of the Royal Marines Reserve Bristol, and Warrant Officer Class 2 Jonny Morrish delivered the message from General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, congratulating him on the milestone.
Sir Gwyn said: “Having the qualities needed to serve in Special Forces is a remarkable achievement, but the many covert operations and missions you then conducted behind enemy lines during WWII were truly courageous.
“I hope you can recognise the huge impact you had on the course of the war and the numerous conflicts. You remain an inspiration to us all.”
Lt Col Kedward said it was particularly fitting that the message came from the first Royal Marines officer to be made First Sea Lord, the head of the Royal Navy.
Harry was moved to tears by the message, and talked with the Royal Marines afterwards.
Born in Barford St Martin, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, one of four children,Harry’s earliest memory, according to his daughter Teresa, is when he was five or six, holding a girl’s hand walking home from school each day and not wanting to let go.
Harry volunteered for the Royal Navy in 1942, aged 16, after lying about his age, before transferring to the Royal Marines and joining the SBS, fighting behind enemy lines in Italy, Lebanon and Burma.
After the war he returned to Wiltshire and worked as a labourer then a painter and decorator, bringing up nine children in his first family, with 29 grandchildren and “many more” great-grandchildren.
Teresa said Harry, known as H, has also been a father to his second family with wife Gwen, who he met in 1985 and has seven children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Harry has lived in Bristol for the past 40 years.
Teresa says his secret to a long life is “to be a good boy, have lots of patience, which usually means giving in a lot, and having the odd tot of rum”.