Plea to help poorly WWII Royal Navy veteran as he's set to spend 101st birthday in hospital
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FAO Alec Penstone served throughout the Blitz - pulling bodies out of bombed buildings
A Second World War veteran who served our country with distinction will spend his 101st birthday in hospital - amid pleas to send him cards to cheer him up.
FAO Alec Penstone will be stuck at a medical facility after becoming unwell. He will not be at his home in Ryde, Isle of Wight, on April 23 celebrating his milestone age.
The Royal Naval Association is calling on everyone to send him a birthday card as a thank you for his service, with his sacrifices shaping the world we live in today. Alec was 15 when the war broke out and decided to join the Royal Navy as soon as he was of age.
“As the Blitz started in London, I volunteered as a part time Air Raid Precautions messenger and served all the way throughout the Blitz in 1940-41 as a messenger,” he said. “At 15 years of age, pulling bodies out of bombed buildings you grow up very quickly.”
“My mates were all going up, joining up, and I decided that I don’t want to stay there any longer. I went and joined the Royal Navy, as a HO (Hydrographic Officer) and that was the start of it.”
Alec served on HMS Campania, an escort aircraft carrier used to seep for mines and search for German U-boats. He spent his time three decks down on constant action station and on-watch listening out for torpedoes, mines and U-boats. On the same ship, Alec then went on to complete 10 Arctic Convoys and returned home a changed man.
He became a member of the Royal Naval Association, an organisation that has supported serving personnel and their families since the 1950s. The organisation’s CEO, Captain Bill Oliphant, said: “We are so sad to hear of Alec’s illness.
“I had the great pleasure of celebrating his 100th birthday with him last year and noted his charisma and charm. In fact, the D-Day Darlings attended his party too and Alec insisted on dancing with them to the exclusion of everyone else. He is a legend and we honour him deeply.”
Cards can be sent to Alec at the following address: FAO Alec Penstone, C/O 20 West Hill Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight - PO33 1LG