For Dougie Shelley, the passage of time has been marked by both extraordinary service and quiet resilience. As his 100th birthday approaches on September 23, 2025, the Southend branch of the Royal Naval Association is rallying the Essex community—and indeed, anyone willing—to make this milestone unforgettable for a man who has given so much and now stands as one of the last of his kind.
Mr. Shelley, a Second World War veteran and Royal Navy seaman gunner, joined the service at just 17. His naval career reads like a chapter from a history book: he served on the HMS Milne during the pivotal D-Day landings, where he played a vital role supporting the troops storming Normandy’s beaches, keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft. According to the BBC, Mr. Shelley was also a member of the Arctic Convoys—dangerous missions that delivered vital supplies to the Soviet Union through icy, treacherous waters. He is now the last Arctic convoy veteran in the Southend Royal Naval Association branch.
Yet, for all his heroism, Mr. Shelley faces his centenary without any known surviving family. That’s why the Royal Naval Association’s Southend branch, led by chairman John Hawes, is making an impassioned appeal: they want to gather at least 100 birthday cards from the public, to be presented to Mr. Shelley at a surprise party on his big day. As Mr. Hawes explained to PA Media, “He really deserves something, he has been one of our founder members way back in 1980 I think it was when the actual club opened. He’s always been there, he’s always got a smile, he always wants to chat.”
Mr. Shelley’s story is one of service and steadfastness. He was on a ship in Hong Kong when news broke of Germany’s surrender in 1945, a moment he remembered vividly. In his own words, as quoted by ITV News, “When we heard about victory in Europe, everybody got together and we all had a good old drink up and jolly up, and couldn’t welcome it much better.” The war, he reflected, “killed so many people it’s unbelievable. All around, the Americans, Russians, all the Allies, the same with the Germans. But you were doing a job, the same as they had to. It’s either kill or be killed.”
His carer, Paul Bennett, described Mr. Shelley’s role on D-Day with clarity and pride: “He was on the HMS Milne on D-Day, supporting the chaps going off to land in craft ashore in Normandy and he was a gunner keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft.” Such recollections are not just history—they are living memory, and with each passing year, the number of veterans able to share these stories dwindles.
Mr. Shelley’s contributions to the Southend branch of the Royal Naval Association extend far beyond his war record. He has been a pillar of the group since its founding, serving as chairman, secretary, and treasurer over the years. As age caught up with him, he had to relinquish these roles, but his spirit never faded. “He’s always been with us on Remembrance Sunday in his wheelchair and somebody’s pushed him up to the cenotaph at Southend,” Mr. Hawes told ChronicleLive. “Dougie always likes to let everybody know he’s there and this will blow his socks off I think.”
The upcoming birthday celebration promises to be a heartfelt affair. Mr. Hawes, himself a former chef and baker on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, is planning to bake a special Victoria sandwich cake for Mr. Shelley. And in a nod to naval tradition—and Mr. Shelley’s personal tastes—a bottle of Pusser’s Rum will be presented to the centenarian. “He does like his tot of rum,” Mr. Hawes said with a smile, adding that this will be offered to guests as well.
But the heart of the celebration will be the cards: tokens of appreciation, respect, and remembrance from people who may never have met Mr. Shelley but who recognize the significance of his life and service. The goal is at least 100 cards, one for each year of his remarkable journey. “I think he’s going to thoroughly enjoy it, he really will, he’ll be over the moon,” Mr. Hawes said. “There’s not many of us left,” Mr. Shelley himself remarked earlier this year, a simple statement that carries the weight of a vanishing generation.
For those wishing to participate, birthday cards should be sent to the Royal Naval Association club at 73-79 East Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6LQ. The cards will be gathered at the branch and presented to Mr. Shelley during his birthday party—a gesture that, in the words of Mr. Hawes, “will make his surprise celebration extra special.”
Mr. Shelley’s story is emblematic of so many veterans whose sacrifices have shaped the world, yet whose later years can be marked by solitude. The outpouring of community support—driven by appeals in local and national media—serves as a reminder that remembrance is not just for the fallen, but for the living, too. The Royal Naval Association’s initiative ensures that Mr. Shelley’s centenary will not pass quietly, but with the recognition and gratitude he so richly deserves.
As the date approaches, the Southend branch continues to spread the word, hoping the postman will have his work cut out come September. And for Mr. Shelley, who spent his youth in the service of his country and his later years in service to his community, the cards, cake, and camaraderie will be a fitting tribute to a century well lived.
In a world where so much changes, some things—like gratitude and the bonds of service—endure. And for Dougie Shelley, the cheers, cards, and a tot of rum will be a testament to a life that has touched many, even those who know him only by name.
