Veteran presented with war medal on 100th birthday

A World War Two veteran has been presented with a war service medal on her 100th birthday.

Irene Cavanagh, from Southport, served alongside the Royal Signals Corps as an auxiliary sergeant and was stationed at Catterick Garrison.

Staff at Locharwoods of Birkdale care home, where Irene lives, worked with the armed forces charity SSAFA to arrange the medal presentation on her milestone birthday.

Irene said she felt it was important to volunteer to serve during the war and she "enjoyed every minute" of her time with the Royal Signal Corps.

Part of Irene's role was to deliver mail to the "very strict" commanding officer, a World War One veteran who asked her to wear a cap and salute him.

"From then on, I had to go 'your mail, sir' and salute - and he used to acknowledge it," she added.

She recalled an occasion when she was concerned about receiving a telegram, as they usually brought bad news and she worried it might relate to her two brothers who were in the Royal Air Force. However, this particular message was an invitation to go to London for an armed forces netball tournament.

Retired Captain Royston Smith-Straney, from SSAFA, said it was "a great privilege" to present her with her war medal on her 100th birthday.

He said that while "there was a little bit of a wait" in her receiving her medal, "it's great that she's got it now".

"Everybody's contribution to the war effort resulted in the success of what they were doing and what we achieved," he said.

"Whether you were abroad fighting or whether you were at home supporting, everyone's contribution was exactly the same."

Staff at the home said they had also arranged for a military jeep to take Irene for a drive.

After an appeal for birthday cards for Irene, the care home said it had already received 105.

Irene's grandson's wife Melissa Walmsley, who also works at the care home, described Irene as "an amazing woman".

"The only thing she wanted on her birthday was her medal and thankfully we have achieved it, which is remarkable," she said.

"She's always talking about her time in the war and what she did and who she served with," she said, adding: "She's so very proud of everything that she's achieved and accomplished".

Irene's niece, Anne Moore, flew over from Ontario, Canada for the occasion, saying it was "wonderful to reach this milestone and to celebrate it with her".

She said seeing her aunt being presented with the medal was "an emotional rollercoaster".

Of turning 100, Irene said she did not feel any different, but said while she used to like saying she was 99, she was not so keen on saying she is 100.

She said she would wear her war medal, adding: "It's very nice to be appreciated".

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