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World War Two veteran turns 100 on D-Day anniversary

Elinor Rice
BBC News
BBC An old bald man in a blue and white check shirt and grey cardigan, sat in a cream armchair and smiling at the camera. He has two silver birthday badges on and beside him, on a small wooden cabinet, are birthday cards with photos of him as a younger man.BBC
Veteran Ted Carter turned 100 on 6 June - the same date as the anniversary of D-Day

An RAF veteran has said he would not change a thing about his life as he celebrated his 100th birthday on the anniversary of D-Day.

Edward 'Ted' Carter from Caerphilly turned 19 on D-Day, 81 years ago on 6 June 1944.

He was deployed in India at the time, a memory he described as "wonderful".

Reflecting on becoming a centenarian, Mr Carter said he had had "a very, very happy life".

"I think we should all live a peaceful, happy life, helping people as much as we can, give back as much as we can," he said.

After leaving school at 16, Mr Carter joined the railway and said his father told him "you won't make much money".

"I didn't want to work anywhere else," he said.

He initially worked in the signal boxes, then "on the trains",

When he was called up to serve in the war effort, he did not want to join the Army.

"And I couldn't swim, so I thought the air force was best for me," he added.

For four-and-a-half years, he served in the Royal Air Force as an engineer, working on Wellington and Lancaster bombers.

"You had to learn in six months what in peace time would take you three years."

Reflecting on the conflict, Mr Carter said: "I think, I hope, the world has got a better place.

"All we want is a quiet, peaceful life."

Royal Air Force A black and white photo of a young man with glasses and short, curly hair wearing an RAF uniform - shirt, tie and jacket.Royal Air Force
Mr Carter served as an engineer in the RAF for four-and-a-half years

When he left the RAF, he joined what is now Great Western Railway.

Returning to Wales in 1946, home became the cottage he shared with his late wife Margaret.

They met as teenagers, and married aged 22 and 23.

"I'm so glad I met Margaret when she was 15," he said.

"We had 61 years of a lovely life together."

With savings of £380, they spent £320 on their cottage in Bedwas and £11 on solicitors fees and went on to raise three children there – Paul, Sharon and Ann.

In fact, the letter he recently received from the King, marking his big birthday, was actually his second correspondence from a monarch, having also had one for his 60th wedding anniversary from Elizabeth II.

Family photo A black and white photo of a man with short, curly hair and glasses, wearing a black suit, white shirt and a tie. He has a flower pinned to his jacket and is smiling at the camera. Next t him is a woman wearing a white lacey dress, a white veil and a head piece and glasses and is also smiling at the camera.Family photo
Mr Carter and his wife, Margaret, spent more than 60 years happily married together in Wales

"[Our dad] taught us to be hard working, kind," said Sharon.

Paul added: "He's been an exceptional human being. He's terrific."

At 98, Mr Carter was still regularly seen tending to his beloved garden at the cottage, particularly its orchard with pear, apple and plum trees.

"We grew everything," he recalled.

He now lives at Castle View care home in Caerphilly, where staff and residents threw him a birthday party.

"All my life I've had very good luck and health. What can you ask for more than that?

"If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change it."