WWII vet who used to protect coastline turns 100

AFTER finishing his school day, Herbert James Stott would collect his rifle and head out to protect our coasts during World War II.

- By NAOMI CORRIGAN

Aged just 14, the Billingham lad joined the Home Guard and part of his duties were patrolling the Seaton Carew area to guard against potential invasion.

He later went on to serve as an antitank gunner in the Irish Guards, both during the war at Arnhem and then in a postwar security role in Palestine.

On Saturday, the much-loved Wolviston dad, granddad and great-grandfather, known as Jim, celebrated his 100th birthday.

His proud daughter Lucy said her father is "one of life's true gentlemen".

Born in Haverton Hill on August 16, 1925, Jim worked for a time as a butcher's boy - a job which he repeated in the Army when he was required to cut up the meat for his hungry comrades.

He had followed in the military footsteps of his father, also named Herbert James Stott, who went on to run the Prisoner of War camp at Wolviston.

Jim would visit the camp where he met a German prisoner of war.

In an amazing act of selflessness, Jim would hand deliver letters to the man's wife in Germany when he was on leave from the Army.