Second World War veteran Harold Wilson L d'H is one of the lucky few, having defied the odds to reach his 101st birthday last week.

Amid a gathering of friends and family that was denied him a year ago for his centenary, the Pershore resident was joined by the director general of the Royal British Legion, Charles Byrne and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Brigadier Roger Brunt CBE.

In a touching gesture of support, Mr Byrne travelled from London to the former tank driver's hometown to present him with a special commemorative badge commemorating his eight year service in HM Armed Forces.

Having enlisted as a regular in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry just before the outbreak of war in 1939, Harold was part of the Normandy beach landings in June 1944. He endured the long and vicious campaign across Northern Europe as the Allies liberated it from its Nazi oppressors.

Harold lost many comrades and survived several near misses before an injury saw him sent back to Britain in April 1945 as his regiment advanced on Berlin.

Once recovered, the Yorkshire-born soldier was sent to Italy where he served until he was demobbed in 1947.

His fortune in surviving the war gave him opportunity to have a family with his late wife Jean, whom he married in 1942.

Harold and Jean retired to Pershore in 2005, where they became popular members of the local community before Jean's death in 2019.

This year, son Ian, daughter-in-law Lottie and two daughters, Judith and Pamela were able to celebrate the day with their father.

At a tea party given by his fellow residents of Roland Rutter Court on Newlands, town crier Robert Speight roused attendees to be upstanding for the eldest member of the gathering.

Roland Rutter resident Steve Juffs was in attendance and shared his respect for his elder neighbour

“Some of the recollections Harold has shared with me from his war service are unreal – it's impossible for us born since the war to comprehend," he said.

While Bob Hackford remarked: “Harold is doing so well. It's a hell of an age to get to!”