BBC News, Essex
PA mediaThe appeal for people to send a 100th birthday card to a world war two veteran has been issued in the dialect to make their big day extra special.
Dougie Shelley joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17, serving as a seamain gunner, and earlier this year said: “Many of us are not left.”
The sailor from Southend-On-C was on a ship in Hong Kong, when the news of Germany’s surrender was filtered.
“When we heard about the victory in Europe, everyone got together, and we all did a good old drink and jolly up,” he said.
The Southnd Branch of the Royal Naval Association has issued an appeal for Mr. Shelley, which will be 100 years old on 23 September.
76-year-old president John Hess said that Mr. Shelley was “the last Arctic convoy veteran, and he was also on D-Day”.
Mr. Hayes, who was a chef and a baker on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, Mr. Shelie’s birthday cake – a Victoria Sponge.
PA mediaPaul Bennett, Mr. Shelley’s career said that 99-year-old, HMS on D-Day was on the chaps going to the craft to get into the ashes in Normandi, and he was a gunner that kept the sky clean the enemy planes “.
Mr. Shelley said: “War killed so many people, it is incredible … similar with Americans, Russians, all colleagues, Germans.
“But you were doing one thing, as they had to do. It is either beating or killed.”
Mr. Hayes said that its objective was to collect at least 100 cards, which would be shown to Mr. Shelley on his birthday, and asked him to send him to the Royal Naval Association in 73-79 East Street, SS2 6LQ.
