A 99-year-old Second World War veteran has reflected on the dwindling number of survivors ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day. Dougie Shelley, who will turn 100 next month, said: "There's not many of us left, mate. We've sailed the seven seas."
Shelley joined the Royal Navy at just 17 years old and served as a seaman gunner on the dangerous Arctic convoys. He was later posted to the Pacific and Australia, experiencing the war's end in the Far East.
"At the end of the war we were out in the Far East but we came into Hong Kong, and that's where it was at the end of the war," Shelley said. He described celebrating at the China Fleet Club: "We went into the China Fleet Club. Boy, did we have a lovely time. My god, all those lucky fellas."
Wartime service across multiple ships
The veteran served on several Royal Navy ships, including HMS Milne, which he described as "the biggest ship the Royal Navy ever built" at the time. "And boy what a ship," said Shelley about the vessel.
According to his carer Paul Bennett, Shelley was sunk twice during Arctic operations and survived both incidents. Bennett said Shelley participated in D-Day operations aboard HMS Milne, where he served as a gunner keeping enemy aircraft away from Allied forces landing in Normandy.
Despite his extensive service, Shelley spent his career as an able seaman and never received promotion. Bennett explained that Shelley failed his bosun's exams due to eye trouble, preventing advancement through the ranks.
Current life and lasting memories
The veteran now lives in a retirement housing complex in Southend, Essex, with no known surviving family. His carer Paul Bennett, a 77-year-old former Army serviceman, spends two hours daily helping with shopping, cleaning and other tasks.
Bennett, who met Shelley at a local veterans club in 2016, will watch Friday's VJ Day memorial service on television with him. "I do it out of respect for him and his service," Bennett said.
According to Bennett, Shelley often reflects on his service years with nostalgia. Bennett said Shelley had lied about his age to join the Navy, following his brother and uncle into service, and called it "the best time of his life". The veteran left the Navy in 1947 and later worked various jobs, including returning to the Merchant Navy and working as a driver for the Ministry of Defence.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
