World War Two veteran Edgar Dacre to turn 100 years old

Edgar Dacre was born on January 15 1923 in Cartmel.

Most of his early life was spent in Arnside before joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the age of 16 in 1939 as an apprentice.

Two years after he was assigned to aircraft maintenance and departed for an air school in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on the SS Mataroa, a 12,341-ton ocean liner.

It is in the same year where he would meet his future wife Velma Byrnes.

In 1943 he returned to the UK on the SS Mauretania to train on the Lancaster aircraft. He was afterwards assigned to 426 squadron based at Linton-on-Ouse - a RCAF squadron.

Edgar's war medals. (Image: Peter Dacre)

By 1944 he also had served with 425 Halifax Mk III squadron and flew 34 missions on his first tour of duty.

In 1945 he served with squadrons 355 and 232 in Liberators - a long-range heavy bomber - in India and Burma until 1949 when he left the RAF.

Edgar and Velma married in 1953 and later would move to Canada for two years before coming back to UK.

In 1958 they move to Rhodesia - now known as Zimbabwe - to join the national airline Central African Airways where he would spend his remaining working life until he retired in the mid 1980s at the age of 65. 

Edgar Dacre during the war. (Image: Peter Dacre)

In 2001 his wife passed away and four years later he decided to return to his home town of Arnside.

He has two married sons, two grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

"He is my hero. We have a very strong bond", said Edgar's son Peter Dacre.

"When I did my military service I was out in manouvers and I wasn't allowed to tell anybody when I was coming back but he always had this sixth sense of the day I would be back and he was always able to tell my mother 'Peter will be back tomorrow' and he always got it right."

At retirement housing complex Millom Court, Edgar met a lady called Alice Tanker with whom a very special friendship and companionship would grow. 

"Alice was a sweetheart, well loved by the whole family", said Peter. 

Edgar and his sons. (Image: Peter Dacre)

When his youngest son Trevor Dacre was asked how he would describe his father, he said: "He is a humble English gentleman but humbleness comes through what he has done".

"He is very upbeat all the time. He is always trying to make a joke and has a good sense of humour and he looks on the bright side all the time."

His family is preparing a simple birthday party with the ones who are living in the UK.

Although most family members cannot be physically present, he has been receiving birthday wishes from all around the world.

"He doesn't know what the fuss is all about turning 100 years old. The last thing that he wants is a party and any kind of attention", said Trevor.

Edgar maintains his interest in aviation through books and magazines.