Army, Navy, Police and Fire Service veteran hits 100
Oh, and John was a traffic warden too
WAR vet John Smith has worn well – serving in more uniforms than most in his 100 years.
He joined the Army, Navy, police, fire service and even became a traffic warden.
John celebrated his 100th birthday with family last week.
And nephew Stephen Owens, 64, said: “He jokes that he’s worn every uniform going. He always had a real devotion to public service.”
John, one of five siblings, was in the Territorial Army when he signed up to the Royal Navy in 1934 at 17, serving on HMS Courageous and the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. By the time both were sunk by the Nazis in the Second World War, Stephen was serving with the 1st Parachute Brigade in Africa and in the Operation Husky invasion of Sicily. Shortly after the war, he wed Olga in 1946 and they set sail for Canada. After returning to Perry Common, Birmingham, in 1948, to look after his sick mum, John served as a special constable, then at his local fire station and also as a traffic warden. Sadly Olga died in 2000.