A WW2 Veteran’s Birthday Bash

Our resident Douglas Kerr celebrated his 102nd birthday recently!

Born in Clapham in 1922 his family moved up to Whitley Bay and when war broke out, he enlisted in the British Army. After a stint in training Doug eventually travelled and spent two years in North Africa and Palestine as part of an Ammunitions Inspection team.

He shared tales of his wartime experiences, including a narrow escape from German Junkers planes during an ammunition run. Doug recounted jumping into the sea as the “Stuka” planes swooped in, hearing the terrifying siren as the planes dive bombed and having to swim to a nearby island for rescue.

He also described the challenges of dealing with German Teller landmines, “the German soldiers were very crafty, and stacked these flat mines on top of each other. When you found them and tried to defuse the top bomb, it triggered all the others and made a huge explosion.”

After his military service, Doug returned to Whitley Bay and worked in ACAS as a civil servant. He and his wife, Joan, raised four children and even after Joan passed away, Doug remained independent in his Whitley Bay home for 13 years.

Doug’s secret to longevity? “Wine gums!” he chuckles. “They keep me going.”

Last year, Doug moved to Charlotte Straker House, where he’s become a beloved member of our community. Our Deputy Manager, Sam Willis said “he’s such a superstar, and we all love him to bits”

As Doug celebrates another year, we’re grateful for his stories, and his continued presence in Charlotte Straker House. Happy birthday, Doug!