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WWII veteran celebrates 101st birthday in Looe

Christine ButlerSouth West
BBC An older man with white hair smiling at the camera. He is wearing a red checked shirt and a jacket in blue plaidBBC
David Lightfoot served in India and on a trip to the cinema there was surprised to see a holiday advert of his home town in Cornwall

World War Two veteran David Lightfoot celebrated his 101 birthday on 6 November, and has been reflecting on his time in the armed forces, when aged 19 he joined thousands of troops in India, then still part of the British Empire.

He tells the remarkable story of when he went to the cinema in India and a holiday advert appeared of Polperro, Cornwall, his home town.

David said: "They (the film maker) showed the oldest house in Polperro there and this Pamela Gardener was walking along to what was the Post Office, and I said 'Oh that's where I live'.

"Then (the film maker) went further along by the harbour and I could see the field that I'd ploughed before I left home (to join up)," he said.

David Lightfoot It is a black and white photograph of a man sitting in the saddle on a horse. An Indian man is holding the bridle of the horse. Behind them are straw huts surrounded by lush vegetationDavid Lightfoot
A photograph of David Lightfoot on horseback where he was stationed in the Indian jungle

Lightfoot said because he came from an agricultural family he was stationed with the seven horses that were kept at his camp and he trained officers how to ride.

His neighbour and friend Judy Whitlock said: "His memory is so clear and there is so much to reflect on and he's got some super tales to tell.

"I think one more rather touching aspect of his time over there was some of the officers and David were deputed to ride out and help the injured that had been reported to be found some distance away.

"When he got there he recognised one of his old schoolmates from Polperro School Jack Libby who was one of the ones who was injured.

"And again, as with the story of the cinema, what are the chances of that, with thousands of troops out there another lad from Polperro and David were reunited?" she said.

Whitlock said Lightfoot puts his longevity down to a glass of red wine and a bag of beef flavoured crisps every day, and a pasty several times a week.

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