D-Day veteran turns 100 with surprise party

Joe Bullock's bash included cake, cards, and gifts - as well as a bottle of rum for the former sailor

A D-Day veteran has celebrated turning 100 with a surprise birthday party organised by a local navy association.

Joe Bullock, from Stourbridge, served on landing craft in Normandy on the historic day during World War Two.

The Stourbridge branch of the Royal Naval Association (RNA) threw a party for Mr Bullock on Sunday, where they presented the former sailor with a certificate and a bottle of rum.

Mr Bullock, who turned 100 on Monday, said it was "a complete surprise" to be celebrated in this way.

D-Day took place on 6 June 1944, when troops from the UK, US, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the coast of northern France. It marked the start of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe.

World leaders and veterans came together earlier this year to mark the operation's 80th anniversary.

'Such a humble man'

Mr Bullock served on landing craft, small naval vessels that took troops from ship to shore, on Juno beach on D-Day. He worked as a joiner on the boats and went on to make coffins in later years.

"He's such a humble man," said Keith Bojczuk, the vice-chairman of the Stourbridge RNA, who had the idea to throw a surprise party for Mr Bullock.

"He's only opened up over the last few years [about] his experiences at D-Day. And you can tell when he's talking about it, he's got that tear in his eye still."

Mr Bullock's 100th birthday party took place at the Royal British Legion club in Kingswinford on Sunday.

Mr Bojczuk said the veteran planned to spend Monday with his family and he had saved his birthday card from King Charles to open with them.

He added that Mr Bullock had played crown green bowls, a form of lawn bowls, up until last year and he still enjoyed a sailor's traditional tipple.

"He loves a drop of rum," Mr Bojczuk said.