One of Britain’s oldest war heroes who survived being bombed by German planes has celebrated his 108th birthday.
Frank Chester, who is thought to be the sixth oldest man in Britain, trained as a Royal Naval officer and was promoted to First Lieutenant aboard HMS Honeysuckle during WWII.
But now, aside from his faith, he jokingly credits one thing for keeping him going.
READ MORE: Signed Nirvana album Nevermind kept in loft for 30 years sells for over £18,000
- Advertisement -
“I always sit down to put on my trousers,” he told What’s The Jam.
“If I tried to put them on standing up I would fall over.”
HMS Honeysuckle supported convoys protecting submarines and merchant ships from attack during WWI.
And Frank can recall the moment it was attacked by German planes while they escorted two surfaced submarines near Norway.
He said: “When we saw the German aircraft we knew it was coming for us.
- Advertisement -
“I knew they were going to bomb us.
“I could hear a knocking sound but quickly realised it was my knees knocking together.”
After the war, London-born Frank moved to Walsall where he met actress Lily.
- Advertisement -
The great-grandfather said: “Six weeks later we decided we were going to spend the rest of our lives together – Lily was the best thing that happened to me.
“The Lord has been very kind to me every day – I say my prayers every morning and thank him that he has given me another day.”
Frank now lives at Hastings residential care home in Malvern, Worcs.
Manager Shelly Ford said: “Frank is a fantastic gentleman, who has lived an incredibly inspiring life.
“He has so many great stories to share.
“We were thrilled to celebrate his milestone birthday with him.”
Donald Rose, 110, of lkeston, Derbyshire, is both the oldest man in Britain and the oldest veteran.
READ MORE: Dad-of-three runs 34 miles to Diddly Squat Farm to thank Jeremy Clarkson for saving his life
