101 Year Old War Veteran Receives An MBE From The Queen

A 101-year-old WW2 veteran was honoured by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for his ongoing commitment to making sure the sacrifices made in the Second World War are not forgotten.

Lieutenant Colonel Mordaunt Cohen, was the oldest to be made an MBE on Friday and was recognised for his work in educating children about the Second World War.

He said:

"I am honoured and delighted that I was able to receive it personally from Her Majesty the Queen."

He is the most senior Jewish officer who served in the war to still be alive.

Mordant served in Burma in the 14th West African Anti Aircraft brigade.

He survived malaria, hepatitis, and grueling conditions, as part of an anti-aircraft unit defending RAF airstrips.

The WW2 veteran said he hoped no one would have to go through what he did.

"There's nothing greater than peace between people.

"I've witnessed the horrors of war and I don't want my descendants to go through the same ordeals as I did."

He was joined by his grandson, Saul Taylor, at the Palace on Friday, he says his grandfather "wants people to realise what he and his friends went through - to make sure that we live in peace and free in this country.

"But also, his surname is Cohen - it's Jewish, and he wants people to know that the Jewish community of this country played their part to ensure that we live as we do now."

The former Lieutenant Colonel is still working, at the age of 101, to help future generations to only know peace and not the horrors of war that he witnessed.