A SECOND World War veteran who took part in the Battle of Arnhem celebrates his 103rd birthday today (Thursday).

Raymond Whitwell, who lives in Malton, was born in Rillington, moving to Scampston when he was a year old.

He left school at 15 and got a job as an errand boy at G Longster and Sons in Malton.

He was called up to the army in September 1939 at the age of 20 and was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) before moving to Belgium as the German advance began.

He said: “We were part of the rearguard to allow the BEF to make for Dunkirk and evacuate to England. I eventually got to the beaches, but the situation was chaotic and hopeless, so I decided to try elsewhere.

“I was left in France after the evacuation of Dunkirk and spent 16 days travelling around, trying to find my way back to England.

“I had no knowledge of the overall situation and I eventually met up with a regular Army officer who was also lost, but could speak French.

“We arrived at Lille Railway Station, where he found 29 English Red Cross nurses who were as pleased to us, as we were them. We found a Dutch fishing boat in the harbour and hitched a ride to Southampton.”

Mr Whitwell distinguished career continued with a period serving in North Africa and then the Battle of Arnhem when, he recalls, he and others went for nine days without food.

“From there we went to Norway to disarm the German garrison, before we came back to England for VE Day and eventually, demob after serving for six years and four months in the Army,” he said.

Mr Whitwell returned to Malton and opened his own shop in Castlegate as well as running several market stalls until he retired aged 90.

He was married to Iris for more than 40 years and the couple had three children, Paul, Tim and Jill, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Over recent years Mr Whitwell has been supported by the Taxi Charity on various visits including their trip to The Netherlands last month.

London cab driver and volunteer for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans Seb Philp, said: “Ray kept everyone entertained throughout the weekend with his wicked sense of humour and was keen to tell those he met that he was 102 and 11 months.

“I have been Ray’s regular driver for Taxi Charity trips for many years.

“I drive to Malton to pick him up and our journeys are always very entertaining. He is amazing for his age and thoroughly enjoys these charity visits to the areas that he knows well from the war. We will be returning to The Netherlands in May with Ray for the Dutch Liberation commemorations and will raise a special toast to this lovely man for his 103rd birthday.”