WW2 veteran celebrates 105th birthday with more than 3,000 cards

World War Two veteran with no surviving relatives celebrates his 105th birthday with more than 3,000 cards after kind-hearted strangers responded to charity appeal

• Ernest Horsfall was ‘surprised and amazed’ at how many people wrote to him 
• His girlfriend Margaret flew in from Iceland to be with him on his special day 

A World War Two veteran celebrated his 105th birthday today, as he received more than 3,000 cards from kind-hearted strangers following a charity appeal.

Ernest Horsfall, who has seen 27 Prime Ministers and five British monarchs in his lifetime, said he was ‘surprised and amazed’ at how many people wrote to him, given he has no surviving relatives. 

After the Royal British Legion called for the brave ex-servicemen to be honoured for his landmark birthday, the 105-year-old was showered with cards from generous well-wishers – including one from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. 

And to make the day even more special, his girlfriend Margaret, 63, flew in from Iceland to be with him.

After opening all of the cards, he said he was looking forward to spending some time with her, as well as thanking everyone who sent in messages.

Ernest Horsfall, a World War Two Lancashire veteran, photographed surrounded in some of his birthday cards at his friends home in Blackburn on his 105th birthday today

Mr Horsfall, here aged 101, was given a surprise rousing send-off from Preston to London as he travelled by train to London for the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall

Staff Sgt Ernest Horsfall. He was showered with cards from generous well-wishers after the Royal British Legion called for the brave ex-servicemen to be honoured for his landmark birthday

Speaking from the care home in Preston, Lancashire, where he lives, Ernest said: ‘I say thank you to you all.

‘I’m utterly surprised and amazed at the number of greeting cards that came my way.’

And in revealing what his key to longevity is, the 105-year-old revealed today that the secret is remaining as ‘happy as you can.’

He said: ‘The secret to a long life is to keep living as happy as you can and keep a straight mind.’

Mr Horsfall was married for 57 years and had a son and a sister, but they have both now passed away, so he celebrated another milestone with Margaret. 

The ex-staff sergeant served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from 1940 to 1946, before settling in Preston, where he went on to work for Vauxhall Motors.

Remarkably, Mr Horsfall went on to take flying lessons at 43 and was a private pilot until the age of 93 – when he couldn’t get insured. However, he maintained aircraft until he was 101.

Mr Horsfall was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1918 – just three weeks after the RAF was formed.

The veteran, who has seen 27 Prime Ministers and five British monarchs in his lifetime, said he was ‘surprised and amazed’ at how many people wrote to him

After opening all his cards, he said he was looking forward to spending time with his girlfriend Margaret, 63, who flew in from Iceland to be with him on his special day

War veteran Ernest Horsfall celebrated his 102nd birthday with a letter from the Prime Minister at the time, Boris Johnson

Mr Horsfall (L) with a French plane designer in 1980. He went on to take flying lessons at 43 and was a private pilot until the age of 93 – when he couldn’t get insured

Mr Horsfall served in London during the blitz before joining the Allied campaign in North Africa, then went to Italy to maintain Allied tanks, directing 23 Italian civilian mechanics.

And brave Mr Horsfall says he still has vivid memories of serving with the Army Ordnance Corps in London in 1940 and feels lucky to have survived the terrible conflict, saying: ‘There would be swarms of Nazi bombers flying overhead all night and I knew many people that were injured or worse.

‘On one occasion, our guard room was hit and six of my pals were killed, I was just lucky it wasn’t my duty that night.’

Mr Horsfall, who has met several prime ministers since leaving the armed forces, also received a card from Rishi Sunak congratulating him on reaching his 105th birthday.

But of all the statesmen he had the pleasure of speaking to, he said he particularly enjoyed chatting with Boris Johnson, who he’s met on three occasions.

He said: ‘I thought Boris Johnson was remarkable because he took so much time with me. In all, I’ve had about three visits, knee to knee, with Boris.’

In revealing what his key to longevity is, the 105-year-old revealed today that the secret is remaining as ‘happy as you can’

Rachel Venables, membership engagement manager for the Royal British Legion – which launched the card appeal – said the sacrifices of servicemen like Mr Horsfall would ‘never be forgotten’.

She said: ‘The Second World War generation is inevitably diminishing, but occasions like this are an opportunity for the RBL to remind everyone that their service and sacrifice means something and will never be forgotten.

‘Bringing the community together has always been a strength of the Royal British Legion and our branch network creates connections in local communities, playing a vital role in reaching those veterans who need us the most.’

And his friend, Terry Cook, said they were ‘staggered’ by the response.

He added: ‘We are delighted that the RBL has recognised Mr Horsfall wonderful career and remarkable longevity, and we have been staggered by the response, he is a very modest man, but he has been overwhelmed at this level of recognition.’

In November 2019, Mr Horsfall received an emotional VIP send-off from Preston Railway Station on his way to take part in the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance in London’s Royal Albert Hall, where he was one of only 44 World War Two veterans to take to the stage. 

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