Wishing super sub hero Harry a very happy 101st birthday
Family asks public to send him cards
ON THE WATER Harry loved his time on HMS Osiris
THE family of Britain’s oldest Second World War submariner have asked strangers to send birthday cards when he celebrates his 101st birthday in a care home.
Harry Melling received more than 600 from wellwishers when he turned
100 in lockdown last year.
Now his family are hoping Britons will help him celebrate his special day again this Sunday.
Great nephew Matthew Melling said: “He’s still not able to have a big celebration because of restrictions, but we intend to have a party for him when it’s safe to do so.
“Harry’s had a tough year. He’s been confined to his room, shielding a lot of the last six months.
“We’ve only been able to see him through a window until recently.”
Harry was a crew member on HMS Osiris, stationed in the Mediterranean to help the Allied invasion of Sicily, and travelled as far as Kenya. Widower Harry, from Wigan, was brutally robbed and pushed to the floor in the hallway of his home in 2017. In 2018 the former church warden was invited to the Submariners’ remembrance service in London to meet the Duke of Cambridge – who Harry called “a gentleman”. In 2019, Matthew pushed his “hero” Harry across the line at the Wigan half marathon in his wheelchair to raise funds for ex-soldiers. Harry was forced to shelve party plans last year but Matthew said: “I’m determined to make sure he can celebrate this one.” Speaking of his service, Harry has said: “It was a good life on board. I got to do and see things I’d never have normally done.”
■ Post a card to Harry at: Alexandra Grange, Alexandra Court, Howard St, Pemberton, Wigan WN5 8BD.