War hero gets 160 cards on his 108th birthday thanks to kindness of strangers

10 January 2023 , 19:58

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Donald Rose and Kayleigh Callaghan, head of care at Canal Vue Care Home where he lives (Image: Canal Vue Care Home / SWNS)

A beloved old soldier was “overwhelmed” when 160 strangers sent him cards for his 108th birthday.

Former Desert Rat Donald Rose woke on the big day to find 50 cards from complete strangers from across the UK.

But that was just the start. A Royal British Legion appeal on Facebook had gone viral and widower Donald’s care home was swamped with another 110 in the following week – including one from the King.

Son David, 74, was moved when he saw how many cards his dad had received. He said: “It was very unexpected and brought a lump to my throat because the gesture was so thoughtful.

Donald aged 25 when he signed up for the British Army in 1939 (Courtesy of the Rose Family / SW SWNS)

Donald with his medals (Canal Vue Care Home / SWNS)

“My dad has always been a hard-working man. He always worked to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads. He is just a gentleman really and deserves this.”

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Trained sniper Donald served in North Africa, Italy, France, Normandy, Belgium, Holland and Germany in the Second World War.

Donald Rose and his late wife Jeanette (Courtesy of the Rose Family / SW SWNS)

David said: “My father went through a lot in the war and saw a lot of things we couldn’t even imagine.

“He is the gentlest man you will ever meet and would do anything for anyone. People sent him cards and they didn’t even know him.”

Natalie Summerfield, from Canal Vue care home, in Ilkeston, Derbys, said: “He was completely ­overwhelmed by the number of cards.”

Donald (circled) with the 7th Armoured (Courtesy of the Rose Family / SW SWNS)

Donald, originally from Westcott, Surrey, has one grandchild and three great-grandchildren. He signed up in 1939 and served in the Queen’s Royal Regiment with the 7th Armoured Brigade. He joined the Eighth Army as a Desert Rat under Field Marshal Montgomery in Africa.

After the war, Donald was awarded the Legion D’Honneur – France’s highest honour. He worked into his early 70s and had various jobs as a labourer, working for the gas board, as a lorry driver and also a bin man.

He moved to Derbyshire in 2000 following the death of his wife Jeannette.

Martin Fricker