D-Day Veteran Receives 2,700 Cards On 100th Birthday

A Normandy veteran has been sent more than 2,700 birthday cards on his 100th birthday after an appeal to help with the celebrations went global.

Tommy Trotter, a former Northumberland Fusilier, said he was "over the moon" after seeing all of his cards laid out at the Last Post bar in Thornaby, Teesside.

One of the well-wishers was the Prime Minister, who thanked him for years of service and congratulated him on his landmark birthday.

The Last Post, which has a military memorabilia theme and looks after veterans, has its doors closed due to the pandemic but Mr Trotter is in a bubble with its landlady Julie Cooper.

She said: "The cards have come from all over the world.

"We got the message out via Facebook, then regiments shared them, and it went far and wide."

During the war, Mr Trotter joined the D-Day landings and helped prepare airstrips for the Allied forces.

The veteran, who holds the Legion D’Honneur, was delighted with the birthday cards which carpeted the floor of the bar before they were opened, and even had a celebratory dance.

Sitting beside Mrs Cooper, he said: "I’ve never had nowt like this before, it’s lovely.

"It’s always been lovely in here."

Supporters of the national veteran support club, the Tommy Club, also gave Mr Trotter a lifesize and specially engraved soldier figure made by ex-servicemen working at the military charity Royal British Legion Industries’ factory.

He was also made an honorary member of the Tommy Club, which raises funds for military veterans and helps them into employment.

Cover image: Tommy Trotter with '100' balloons behind him (Picture: PA).