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Brian Howarth was only 16 when he joined the British Army in 1942. Three years later, he was risking his life as a paratrooper in a huge airborne battle over the Rhine. Although he is now in his 90s, Brian’s memories of wartime remain as vivid as ever.

As the Royal Hospital Chelsea marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), we reflect not only on the end of the Second World War, but on the lived experiences of those who served. Among them are Chelsea Pensioners Brian Howarth and John Morris - two veterans whose stories remind us of the courage, sacrifice, and resilience that defined a generation.

When the war started, I was called up as a regular soldier at the age of 17. I was excited; in those days you thought it was exciting going to war. I was a gun layer and saw through the Blitz in London, as part of the Anti-Aircraft Battery. During the first week of the war,a German Dornier Do flying boat came over on a reconnaissance mission and I had to lay the gun to fire at it. I didn’t hit the Dornier, but knocked a kitchen chimney down. I wasn’t very popular and we weren’t given any breakfast that morning!