War hero, 100, says secret to long life is a glass of rum every day since age 17

05 November 2023 , 17:41

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William Darlington, 100, with his medals from World War II (Image: Newsquest / SWNS)

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War hero William Darlington joined the Home Guard on his 16th birthday, November 3, 1939, a month after the Second World War broke out. And a year later, he went into the Royal Navy where he was introduced to a tot of rum.

As he celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday, he said: “In the Navy, they gave you a ration of rum to calm your nerves. And I’ve drunk a glass every day since the age of 17.”

William, originally from Bootle, Merseyside, went on to serve as a commando on missions in Algiers, Malta, Sicily, Corsica, Anzio, Elba and Greece. While in Malta William saved the lives of three young boys in a harbour.

William Darlington, 100, was a commando in the Combined Force (Newsquest / SWNS)

He said: "None of us were heroes, we just did our duty when it came to it. I was serving on an LCT26 landing craft in the harbour of Gozo, an island near Malta. There were three kids, they must have been about 12 years old, swimming and playing in the water when they got into difficulty. I saw them from the ship so I jumped into the water to save them. The people of Gozo gave me a badge as a thank you."

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William, of Bradford, West Yorks, was awarded the Kings’ Badge after suffering a perforated eardrum when a shell exploded near him in Italy. He was discharged in August 1946. He was given the Kings' Badge after suffering a perforated eardrum when a shell exploded near him at Salerno, Italy.

"I didn't join up to sit at a desk” he said. "I received a King's Badge, which is only given to those injured in the line of duty."

His seven years of service ended when he was finally discharged in August 1946. One of his five children, Ronnie Darlington, said of his dad's wartime heroics: "I have extreme pride in him. To go through what he's been through is amazing."

His granddaughter, Stacey Bolter, added: "Listening to his stories is insider's history and is something that you just wouldn't get out of books."

Douglas Whitbread