War veteran Arthur Gillett celebrates 105th birthday

Arthur Gillett and his daughter have been celebrating his 105th birthday at the care home in Brixworth

A war veteran who survived a torpedo attack and a bridge explosion has celebrated his 105th birthday.

Arthur Gillett was brought up in Liverpool but now lives at a care home in Brixworth, Northamptonshire.

He was in a reserved occupation when World War Two broke out, but volunteered to serve his country.

He has received a birthday card from King Charles III, having already had one for his 100th birthday from the late Queen.

Mr Gillett was born on 11 January 1919, the day after Winston Churchill became Secretary of State for War.

Some British soldiers were still arriving home from their postings even though the Armistice had been signed to end World War One two months before.

Soldiers handing in their rifles in France before being demobbed, around the time Mr Gillett was born

Mr Gillett's son-in-law Rod Bailey said: "When he was 14, he started with Great Western Railways as a steam fitter.

"When he got to nearly 18, the war was looming, so he and a few friends signed up - they didn't need to, they were in protected occupations."

Mr Gillett found himself joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and was posted to Africa to look after tanks and other vehicles.

On the way there, the ship he was in was torpedoed, and the men took to the lifeboats.

Mr Bailey said: "They were rescued by a Canadian Corvette, and they were frightened they would get torpedoed as well, so they wouldn't stop.

"They threw nets over the side and said 'grab on if you can'."

Mr Gillett's job involved fixing tanks damaged during fighting in Africa

During his time in Africa, he was returning from fixing an ambulance when he drove over a booby-trapped bridge.

Mr Bailey said: "The bridge collapsed and [Arthur] in the car dived 30ft down to a dried river bed.

"He had his left leg very badly injured and has never been able to bend his knee ever since."

He was sent home and spent the rest of the war training other people.

After the war, Mr Gillett became one of the most prominent bee-keepers in Lancashire.

At the age of 69, his wife died suddenly. Mr Bailey said the couple were inseparable and did everything together.

Mr Gillett lived on his own until he was 99, and was still driving at 98.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla sent greetings to Arthur Gillett to mark his 105th birthday

His family moved him to Northampton, where he received his 100th birthday card from Queen Elizabeth II.

He has just received another card from King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

And his secret to a long life? Mr Bailey said: "He has always said 'everything in moderation'.

"He's never binged on anything, never smoked, taken very little alcohol, likes food but doesn't eat too much, so everything in moderation.

"That would be his claim."