Harry Howorth celebrated his 100th birthday last week with a small afternoon garden party outside his apartment attended by many of his neighbours and friends.
A signaller in the Shropshire Light Infantry, Harry survived the D Day landing, despite nearly drowning when pitched into sea after his landing craft was knocked sideways by the currant on Sward Beach. Because of the weight of his standard equipment plus the radio and batteries he could not swim and would have drowned but was rescued by another soldier, whose name he never learned, who dived back from the beach.
Harry went on to serve all through the war, but he never forgot his hero and as such never applied for any of the many medals he was entitled to. Harry was finally persuaded to accept the French Legion of Honour in 2018 and attended the reunion in France in June 2019.
Harry is pictured here with five generations of family including newest member great great grandson Lukas.
Daughter Edna English and her husband Jimmy arranged for a celebratory evening meal at Harry’s favourite restaurant, The Empire in Neville Street, for Harry, his girlfriend Maureen Hall and themselves.
Lilly, the owner of the Empire Restaurant pulled out all the stops to make it a grand event, including wines and champagne all at her own expense. All the staff made the staff made sure it was a superb experience.
What a wonderful way to end the day.