D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday

A World War Two veteran who was an officer during D-Day has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Tony Winterburn survived bomb raids and other attacks while serving in the Merchant Navy, taking part in the perilous Arctic convoys of 1943 that transported aid to Russia, and later carrying troops to the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944.

He was joined by family on Wednesday to celebrate his birthday at Burnham Lodge nursing home in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset.

The centenarian said: "I feel just the same. I don't feel any different, I don't feel any weakness or illness. I feel perfectly OK."

For his efforts during the war, he was awarded France's National Order of the Legion of Honour and an Arctic Star medal.

Winterburn joined the Merchant Navy as a radio officer in 1942 at the age of 16.

In 1943, he was part of a convoy of ships taking cargo to Russia.

"I was 16, coming on 17. I thought nothing would happen to me. I'll be alright," he said.

"Then, one morning, some bombs struck us. The boiler room came to pieces around me. A piece of equipment hit me, fell on my shoulder, and broke my collarbone."

He later served as a radio officer aboard the SS Stanridge, which transported 600 troops, vehicles, and landing craft to Gold Beach on 6 June 1944, now known as D-Day.

His eldest daughter Janine Wharmby said: "He was on deep-sea trawlers in the Arctic after the war.

"In the early 1950s he wanted to settle down and have a family. I was born in 1956."

Miranda Ibbetson, Winterburn's second daughter, said he has had a passion for the sea all of his life.

"It's very impressive, not only to reach that age but to have maintained his grasp on his interests. He still remains absolutely committed to the theme of his life, sailing, the sea, ships, the Navy," she said.

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