Britain's oldest man celebrates 110th birthday with wartime-themed party
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Britain's oldest man will celebrate his 110th birthday tomorrow - with a wartime-themed party. World War II hero Donald Rose, a former sniper, survived being shot during the D-Day landings. He joked his long life was down to his insides being “pickled” by drinking sea water and eating dog biscuits during the war.
The sprightly centenarian will celebrate his milestone birthday at his care home in Ilkeston, Derbys. He was honoured in May with a special Spitfire flyover as part of a series of events to commemorate World War II. Donald, who has one grandchild and three great-grandchildren, has lived at the care home since 2020. Carer Naomi Allsop said: “He’s the oldest World War Two veteran in the UK - you learn about it at school, but being with him is something else.
“He thinks the men that fell are the heroes, and he doesn’t see himself as one because he lived and they didn’t. He’s so lovely, he likes to sing a lot and tells funny stories. I’ve known Donald since he came to the home and we’ve been best friends ever since.
“He says there’s no secret to living a long life - but reckons his insides were ‘pickled’ during the war.” His son David, who is in his 70s, said: “He’s my father, he’s my hero.”. Donald was born on Christmas Eve, 1914, the same year Britain was plunged into World War I. He served as a sniper and Desert Rat in North Africa, Belgium, Holland and Germany during the war. Donald also did his duty with the Queen’s Royal Regiment and earned a number of medals during his service.
