By Douglas Whitbread via SWNS
A D-day veteran who defended landing troops from Nazi fighter planes has received more than 200 cards from well-wishers for his 100th birthday.
Brave John Dennett was pictured among a huge mound of 217 letters sent to him by well-wishers from across the country to mark his special day.
He was just 17 when he signed up to serve in the Royal Navy in 1941 against his mum’s wishes – and was let into the forces after lying about his real age.
And three years later, on June 6, 1944, he served as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard one of the 7,000 ships that delivered soldiers onto the beaches of Normandy.
John also took part in the other major allied landings during the Second World War – both in North Africa and Italy.
He returned to France to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June this year, where he met the King and paid his respects to the fallen.
John, who celebrated his birthday on July 23, said about his centenary: “It’s a funny feeling – all I hope is I reach 200!
“It’s only now that I’ve reached 100 that I realize I’m that old. I will just have to take it easy now.”
John was born in Bramham, West Yorks., before later moving to Bath, Somerset, where he became an apprentice bricklayer at the start of the war.
But after concealing his age, he managed to join the Navy in 1941 and went to train in the US aboard the Queen Elizabeth.
He was involved in Operation Torch – a major amphibious assault where Allied forces transferred 107,000 troops to North Africa.
And he further helped soldiers get a foothold on Sicily and in Salerno, Italy.
John then shielded troops from enemy aircraft fire landing on Sword Beach, in Normandy on D-day, which turned the tide of the war against the Nazis.
He previously said about the 80th anniversary commemorations to mark the famous landings: “It was exceptional, the trip of a lifetime.
“Everything went according to plan, all the services went to plan.
“I also met the King and Queen again – we’re on first name terms now! I really enjoyed meeting them.
“I enjoyed my time out there so much, the memories will remain with me for the rest of my life. It was very moving. I had to say a few words at Bayeux.
“I said the line that went ‘For your tomorrow, we gave our today’.
“It was a chance to commemorate. There was one veteran who was 103 who was acting a lot younger. It really gave me hope.”
John met his future wife, Joyce, in a pub just prior to the D-day landings when his ship docked at Birkenhead.
They married in August 1947 and settled down in Merseyside.
Following the war, they together founded Ashville Football Club in 1949 to give local lads a place to play. He is still its president to this day.
Joyce sadly passed away in 1994 – and John then became a member of the Royal British Legion, embarking on several commemorative trips and selling poppies.
He previously said about Ashville Football Club: “The club has helped me get through so much in my life, it kept me going when my wife died.
“The people running it are doing a great job.”
John, who now lives in Wallasey, Merseyside, marked his centenary with a private party at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton, which featured wartime music, food and entertainment.
