A NAVAL veteran whose football skills saved his life during the Second World War is celebrating his 100th birthday.

Henry Cockerill of Peterlee, County Durham - known to all as Les - was taken off his ship to play in a football match and was so good that an officer insisted he stay on land when his vessel left the harbour to complete the tournament.

The Northern Echo: INVITE: Naval veteran Les Cockerill and his wife Muriel with members of the Royal British Legion

INVITE: Naval veteran Les Cockerill and his wife Muriel with members of the Royal British Legion

He later learned the ship had been captured by the Japanese, with many dying in notorious prison of war camps.

The survivor’s remaining wish - to be invited to parade at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday - was fulfilled at the weekend when members of the Royal British Legion (RBL) attended his birthday party to tell him he would be more than welcome this year.

And, as an added bonus, the great-grandfather was told he and his wife, Muriel, 88, were being asked to attend the Festival of Remembrance, in the presence of the Queen, at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Mr Cockerill was greeted on arrival at a birthday party at the town’s Acre Rigg Social Club by members of the RBL and the Royal Naval Association, carrying the standard.

He said: “I am delighted. I am surprised and I like surprises.”

Mr Cockerill, who turns 100 tomorrow, joined the Royal Navy as a 16-year-old in 1935 and went on to serve on several ships throughout the war.

A leading seaman, he was involved in the rescue of British troops from the beaches of Dunkirk and later served on the perilous Atlantic crossing, escorting convoys with vital supplies from the US.

Mr Cockerill said: “We dropped a number of depth charges on submarines, but never knew if we got anything.”

It was during a voyage from South Africa to India, that his ship stopped over in Goa for a football match.

Mr Cockerill said: “I was told to get back on the ship as it was leaving, but an officer ordered me and two other players to stay to take part in a football tournament.

“We later heard the ship had been captured by the Japanese. So football saved my life.”

Mr Cockerill, served on HMS Dragon, HMS Mauritius and HMS Sabre among other, and ended the war on minesweeper clearing the North Sea.

His daughter Denise Cockerill, who travelled from Malaysia to be at the celebrations, said: “My father was delighted with the party.

“He lasted the whole four hours, going around and greeting everybody.

“Being invited to attend the Festival of Remembrance and the Remembrance Day parade is a dream come true for him.”

Also at the party were his son Alan and daughters Jillian and Wendy. His eldest son David sadly died several years ago.

Mr Cockerill’s granddaughter-in-law Julie Slater-Hind, who organised the party, said: “The day went really well.

“We had about 80 people attend. He said he never realised he had so many friends and was enjoying himself so much that when we asked him if he wanted to go home he said “no I can’t party in bed”.”

Mr Cockerill has seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.