Wiltshire veteran gets special visit to celebrate 99th birthday
He joined the army when he was just 17 years old.
The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry has helped one of their former troops celebrate his 99th birthday.
Ken Batt served his country with the regiment during World War 2 and is one of their last remaining veterans from that period.
Lieutenant Colonel David Utting, a current member of the regiment, made a surprise visit to Ken's home to present him with cards, a cake and a special video message, which featured shoutouts from a wide range of serving soldiers in his former unit.
Among the cards were also greetings from the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Honorary Colonel Oliver Chamberlain and The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton.
Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, the Yeomanry were determined to help Ken celebrate his special day.
David said:
"The battle of El Alamein is our most important battle honour and so to meet our only surviving veteran of that battle today is a tremendous privilege."
FROM STEAM TRAINS TO SPIRITED HORSES
In 1939, a 17 year-old Ken was working as an apprentice at the Great Western Railway when he decided to sign up to serve his country.
Having a passion for horses, Ken was keen to serve with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry to help him develop his riding skills.
In 1940, Trooper Batt was deployed to the Middle East to take part in Iraq and Syrian campaigns.
During his service there he was bayoneted at the Battle of Palmyra and shot out of his tank on the first night of the Battle of El Alamein.
He survived and went on to serve in Syria and Italy in 1944 before returning to the UK.
Ken was still part of the regiment back home and one night, when returning to barracks, he met a woman named Joyce.
They have now been married for 74 years.
Lieutenant Colonel Charlie O'Neil Roe, Chairman of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Association said:
"Ken is one of our precious few surviving WW2 veterans. Significantly, he was there right at the start, and served with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry all the way through to the end of the war. We are very proud of him."
Happy birthday Ken!