Veteran, 100, issues moving nine-word message to young Brits ahead of VE Day celebrations

The greatest generation has made a clarion call to the next to celebrate next month.

It is hoped millions of Brits will to celebrate the end of in Europe and a moving letter from a surviving veteran to schoolchildren has captured the reason why. Former Green Beret paratrooper John Eskdale, 100, from Gloucestershire, who saw action across the and survived being sunk by a German torpedo wrote: “It’s hard to believe that I was just 14 when WWII broke out - some of you reading this will be a similar age now.

“You may be preparing for your school exams or making exciting plans for what you’re going to do in the future, but whatever you’re doing, I pray you never have to witness a war.

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“My message to you is to take life as it comes and do the best you can because you don’t know what’s round the corner.”

John’s poignant message was delivered to assembled schoolchildren on board The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan on Friday by Dame Kelly Holmes who was with them to enjoy a tea party on the warship’s flight deck.

The event was part of a series of community events being led by the Together Coalition to celebrate the important anniversary - with schools also being encouraged to take part.

John’s message certainly struck a chord with Catalina Robson, 9, and Borys Makosa, 10, both pupils at St John’s Cathedral Catholic School in Portsmouth.

Catalina said: “John’s letter made me think that he is such a special man for actually still being alive after going through everything he went through.

“It was really interesting listening to what he had to experience during the war and I think he is a very brave and courageous man for doing all of that and for wanting to be in the Army at such a young age.”

In her heartfelt letter to John she wrote: “Dear John, I am very grateful for your service in the army because you saved future generations like mine from conflict. I’m very lucky to have heard your letter and am very happy to be writing back to you.”

Borys, who is hoping to join the Navy like his dad who is stationed in Portsmouth, said: “I thought he was brave and courageous and I thought he was a very special man.

“I want to thank him for saving Europe.

In his letter to John Borys said that he thanked him for saving us and the rest of the world from the Nazis.

Heroic Royal Marine John initially tried to join the in 1940 but was too young and volunteered with the Fire Service, in the heavily bombed cities of Bristol, before finally joining the marines two years later.

After training, he went to serve on board HMS Charybdis, which was sunk after an attack by German Torpedo boats, off the Channel Islands.

John spent five hours in the water on a Carley float before rescue by a Destroyer took him back to Plymouth to recover. Of the crew of 533, only 107 were rescued.

Speaking of his experience in his letter to the children he said: “One of my most difficult memories from the war took place in late 1943, when German torpedo boats struck the HMS Charybdis, the Royal Navy ship on which I served.

“I spent a harrowing five hours in the freezing water on a Carley float before I was rescued.

“I never really fully recovered from this experience but went on to complete Commando training and was drafted to 30 Assault Unit, then later went to the Far East.

“I was in on VE Day itself and so was included in the celebratory march there. To me VE Day meant we might go home, and when I did, I soon met my future wife Barbara, a Royal Marine Wren.”

He saw action again, in Normandy and the Far East, taking part in operations to clear Japanese forces from Hong Kong, as well as assisting in the disarming of the Chinese National Army and law enforcement duties and peacekeeping operations at checkpoints across the region before leaving the Royal Marines.

Lieutenant Peter Fowden, 31, HMS Duncan's deputy marine engineering officer, said he was inspired to join the Armed Forces by his grandfather, Sergeant John “Jock” Judge, who served in 2 Para during the Second World War, was evacuated from Dunkirk and took part in behind enemy lines raids on the Nazi-occupied French coast in 1942.

“That whole generation is an inspiration,” he said.

“There is a level of reverence that we talked about them on board the ship.

“We still talk about veterans and the history during our day to day operations, when you are on watch in the middle of the night people still talk about the history.

“I think it’s extremely important we never forget the sacrifices people made for our freedoms in the UK.”

star Ross Kemp joined Dame Kelly Holmes among the guests on board the Type 45 destroyer at Portsmouth Naval Base to promote the nationwide celebrations to be held on May 5.

Mr Kemp, said: “The British public love a knees up - and there’s no better reason to celebrate than the anniversary of VE Day.

“I’ll be raising a glass to the veterans who defended us, the values that prevailed and the freedom we still have as a result of their victory. Half of the country is already joining in - my message to the other half is it’s not too late to get involved.”

Dame Kelly, a double Olympic gold medallist, said: “Moments like this become part of our shared history- they remind us of what really matters and the sacrifices that so many have made to protect our democracy and way of life.

“There is no better way to honour them than to celebrate what they fought for together.”