War veteran shares his 100th birthday with army regiment
AN ARMY veteran has shared his 100th birthday with members of the regiment he served with during the Second World War.
Bob King, who lives at the Foxland Grange care home in Wolverhampton, was a lieutenant with the Worcestershire Regiment for five years during the conflict, during which time he was almost killed and was taken captive.
To mark his 100th birthday, staff at the Care UK home organised for Major Peter Lewis and Corporal Phillip Thornton of the Mercian Regiment, into which the Worcestershire Regiment was amalgamated, to come and celebrate with him.
Mr King said: “I felt honoured the regiment spent the time to come and wish me a happy 100th birthday and it definitely marked the occasion, along with my family celebrations and the ongoing support from all the team at Foxland Grange.”
He served with the regiment in the Second World War and was held captive on the Greek island of Leros for 17 months.
He told visitors: “Someone put a bullet through the rim of my steel helmet” during the conflict.
The representatives of the regiment presented Mr King with a special coin to mark the occasion before they all enjoyed a slice of cake baked by the home’s head chef.
Mr King spent three years of service in the Middle East and he was also a prisoner of war in Germany for nearly 18 months.
After the war, Mr King, who worked his way up to the rank of captain before leaving the Army, worked for 70 years as a solicitor, only retiring recently at the age of 98.
He married twice and had two children, Sheila and Peter, who are regular visitors at the care home in Tettenhall.
Foxland Grange general manager Su Edmonds described Mr King as a “much-loved resident”.
She said: “His gentlemanly nature and his history serving in the Second World War have always made him a hero so it was great to celebrate this fantastic milestone with his family, friends and special guests from the regiment.”
Major Pete Lewis, of the Mercian Regiment, of which the Worcestershire Regiment is now part, said: “We have always been known as a family regiment and we thought if there is any way we can mark this occasion, then we would.
“I have been brought up for 30 years on the family regiment ethos and we wanted to do this for Bob.”
We have always been known as a family regiment. Major Pete Lewis, of the Mercian Regiment.