'It made me feel very special': Royal British Legion group put on happy birthday surprise for 97-year-old WWII veteran Eddie

Pals from Eddie's breakfast club were among those singing happy birthday to the VJ Day veteran living alone during lockdown
By Carly Roberts
Published 26th May 2020, 12:11 BST
Updated 26th May 2020, 12:12 BST
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The Royal British Legion Duston & District branch put on a special sing-song for Eddie Habberley who turned 97 years old on Saturday.

At 10.30am, Eddie's friends from the RBL lined his street in Duston where they organised a military vehicle display, a birthday brownie box from Fays Bakes and a small parade with RBL and Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) members.

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Eddie said: "All in all it was an outstanding day, it went very well indeed. It was a complete surprise and it was nice to see some of the faces I have not seen for so long.

Eddie was over the moon with the turnout for his special day as he stood clapping on his doorstep on Saturday. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.Eddie was over the moon with the turnout for his special day as he stood clapping on his doorstep on Saturday. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.
Eddie was over the moon with the turnout for his special day as he stood clapping on his doorstep on Saturday. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.

"It was a very jolly morning and it gave the neighbours something to look at - it made me feel very special. It was a marvellous thing to do."

Eddie lives independently in Duston, relying on a relative for his shopping during the coronavirus lockdown, after he lost his beloved wife Peggy two years ago.

Eddie grew up in London and was there when WWII started but he was not evacuated; instead being sent onto rooves to search for incendiary bombs dropped during the Blitz.

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His interest in flying as a boy and watching dog fights over London during the Battle of Britain inspired him to volunteer for the RAF aged 17 in February 1942.

The RAFA in partnership with the RBL Duston & District branch put on a small parade in Eddie's street.The RAFA in partnership with the RBL Duston & District branch put on a small parade in Eddie's street.
The RAFA in partnership with the RBL Duston & District branch put on a small parade in Eddie's street.

Eddie was put on deferred service until he turned 18 before starting his training in Newquay, Cornwall.

From there, he went to the USA for a year of further training before returning to the UK for extra flying, eventually joining the war effort in the Middle East.

Eddie flew Spitfires down the Suez Canal, as well as in India where he went to 'jungle school' to learn how to survive in the wild if his plane crashed.

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Darrin Stevens, from the RBL branch, found out it was Eddie's birthday as part of a 'buddy call' and got to work organising a special birthday tribute.

Eddie pictured on his doorstep after his friends told him to look outside for a surprise. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.Eddie pictured on his doorstep after his friends told him to look outside for a surprise. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.
Eddie pictured on his doorstep after his friends told him to look outside for a surprise. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.

"I could not let VJ Day veteran, Eddie, who was a Spitfire pilot, not celebrate his 97th birthday," Eddie said. "He said to me on our buddy call 'that he is looking forward to his two 00’s'.

"We underestimate the importance of doing these little things and we don't realise the impact it has - this guy is a hero.

"I just hope we put a smile on his face and let him know how proud we are of him and all he did for us. It's pay back time."

Related topics:Royal British LegionLondon