Veteran receives World War Two medal 80 years on

A 102-year-old navy veteran has received a medal for her services during World War Two - 80 years after the war ended.

Janet Patterson served in the Women's Royal Naval Service from 1942 to 1945.

During this time, her role as a film operator involved working on projectors which showed educational and instructional films to new naval recruits as part of their training.

Her children Gill and David applied for the War Medal 1939-45 on her behalf and presented it to her at Royal Star & Garter, a care home in Solihull where she now lives.

Mrs Patterson met her future husband, Dennis, during the war while both were serving in the navy and stationed at HMS Glendower in Pwllheli, Wales.

Despite being eligible for the medal, neither of them applied for it.

Dennis Patterson died in 2021, aged 98.

Mrs Patterson said: "This is a big surprise. I never thought I would get a medal and now I have. I just need to wait for the right opportunity to wear it. I'm so grateful to my family for ordering on my behalf."

Her daughter, Gill, added: "It was typical of my parents not to apply for the medal, they probably thought they weren't worthy of it.

"But in October this year it was 80 years since Mum came out of the armed forces, and we thought she deserved to have the medal – even if it is 80 years too late."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.