Chesterfield WWII veteran with 'laugh a minute' personality dies aged 101

The former lieutenant of 8th Punjab Regiment, whose adventures included multiple road trips across America and running the Strathlene Hotel in Perthshire, was fiercely independent in his latter years and continued to live alone in Harthill, Rotherham.

His “laugh a minute personality” and story-telling charm even led to him being chosen to sit next to King Charles a VJ Day commemorative event in August 2025, as organisers knew there would be no lull in conversation.

His niece, Gaye Hadfield, said: “He was a really interesting man who was full of stories.

“He was very entertaining - a laugh-a-minute.

“At any event he went to, you wouldn’t have to make conversation. He was so full of life and was very active.”

Edward was born in Chesterfield on January 28, 1925, and attended Chesterfield Grammar School.

He was a diehard fan of Chesterfield FC and loved sports all his life.

In August 2025 when, ahead of the VJ memorial event, Edward shared some of his WWII stories for the very first time.

He said in 2025: “I’ve never really had the opportunity to speak about my time in the War, I just didn’t think anyone would be interested!

“I tried to join the RAF with two of my mates, but because I’m colour blind I failed the admission test – sadly both of my mates were killed, they were both shot down during the war.”

Edward joined the army instead and, after training in London, boarded a troop ship at Liverpool called the Athlone Castle, destined to join the Indian Army where he quickly rose to Lieutenant with the 8th Punjab Regiment.

He said: “I was only 19 and a bit overawed, to be honest. I would go into meals and hardly speak, but they were kind to me, although I was still learning, and I was quite shy at the time, but I knew I had to get over it.”

Edward was involved in battles with the Japanese near Coxs Bazar but it was also the location for one of the best moments of his life.

Edward said: “One vivid memory I have is getting front row seats to watch Vera Lynn in the jungle in Burma, near Coxs Bazar.

“Ironically, I was sitting right at the back, but then the Commanding Officer got up on stage and ordered the front two rows to swap with the back two rows, so all the top brass were relegated to the rear, and we ended up in prime position. They must have been fuming, those colonels, they thought they had the best seats! I’ll never forget her singing We’ll Meet Again. She could’ve earned big money staying in London, but she came out to see us.”

He could still remember hearing when the war was over.

“We were anchored off Malaya when we heard the news,” he said.

“I remember when that tannoy announcement came over, you could probably hear the cheering back in England, it was raucous.”

Whilst Edward was proud of his achievements in the Far East, he also had dark memories of his time based in Sumatra, when tensions were high immediately after the Japanese surrender.

He said: “One night, some local Indonesians captured our Brigade Major, who had disappeared in his jeep for the evening with a local girl. We had our suspicions about his fate, so the MPs (Military Police) went to the local village and grilled everyone until eventually two of them broke and led us to the bodies of the major and the girl, mutilated and buried.

“Our brigadier ordered me to kill the pair of them. I had no choice but to follow his orders, I just killed them where they stood, and it’s been in my mind ever since, I can’t get rid of it. I know they were going to be killed anyway, but it was me that had to do it.

“I remember when I came back, I’d been away for five years and bumped into a woman I knew in Chesterfield, and she was moaning like hell about the rationing being awful! Nobody back home knew what it was like in the Far East.”

Edward was demobbed in 1947, but Gaye says Edward was “devastated” to leave the army and India, where he loved his service.

Back home, Edward joined the family firm at a pork butchers and married his first wife, Betty. Together they had a son. They later separated, and Edward married his second wife, Margaret. Edward sadly outlived them both.

He was survived by his son Timothy, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

He and Betty ran a hotel in Pitlochry, Scotland, managed a pub near Ripon, and lived in Spain for three years, before settling in South Yorkshire.

He loved travelling, including visits to South Africa and multiple road trips across America.

Gaye said Edward was supported to live alone at his home with the help of “many fantastic neighbours and friends.”

The veteran said in 2025: “I am 100 years old, and I put it down to our wonderful NHS, they’ve been superb with me, I can’t thank them enough. My mum, dad and grandmother all lived into their 90s, so maybe I’m just lucky.”