Centenarian veteran reflects on VE Day anniversary

A 100-year-old RAF veteran from Kent has reflected on his time in the Second World War as the country celebrates Victory in Europe Day.

Len Spratt, from Dartford, enlisted in 1943 and served for about four years before returning to civilian life.

The former wireless operator air gunner said: "I'm just glad to survive the war and I'm sort of happy the way things are at the moment here in my own personal life.

"I'm happy, I'm retired and I've got a marvellous family and they look after me very well."

Thursday marks 80 years since Britain and its allies formally accepted Nazi 's surrender after almost six years of war.

Mr Spratt, who served in the Middle East, said when he heard the news he was "quite relieved".

"I just wanted it all over, to get home," he added.

Mr Spratt says his lesson for the younger generations is: "Just try and be friends and don't go around looking for trouble."

When enlisting in the RAF, Mr Spratt met fellow 18-year-old Roy Briggs, who he went on to befriend and even attend his 100th birthday in March.

Mr Spratt told BBC Radio Kent: "I enrolled, I think March '43 and there was a chap standing alongside of me and [we] sort of shrugged shoulders to sort of say 'what we doing here"Scenic rural landscape with green fields, scattered trees, and several houses in the background. Two horses graze in a field on the right, while the foreground is framed by leafy branches. The sky is blue with scattered clouds. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/>