Oswestry veteran says VE day is a reminder he is 'lucky to be alive'
105-year-old Colin Cole worked in the Airsea Rescue in World War Two
A veteran living in Oswestry told us that VE day is a reminder he is 'lucky to be alive', as the country celebrates it's 80th anniversary.
VE day marks the end of the war in Europe.
Colin's story:
Colin Cole worked for the Airsea Rescue as a radio operator during World War Two. His job was to pick up both British and German airmen who had been shot down in the Channel.
He is now 105, making him one of The Royal British Legion's oldest collectors.
"We were saving people's lives on both sides"
Colin told us the job could be 'horrific' at times: "It was a job worth doing though, we were saving people's lives on both sides.
"You went out in the morning and came back the following morning. Sometimes you picked a lot of people up, other times you saw nobody," he said.
He said that he wanted people to hear his story, to remember what happened in the War: "I think young people should know what happened.
"We need to remember that we were lucky to get through it and survive. We were lucky to be alive," he said.
"I was very happy to get back to normal"
We asked Colin what he remembered from the day the war ended in Europe: "I was very happy to get back to normal and to try and fit back into life," he said.
It was another 12 months before Colin returned to his family, following VE day. His family told us he rarely opens up about what happened.
"We do not talk about the war really"
On his 100th birthday, they found out Colin had worked in the Airsea Rescue and did not know how to swim:
"I learnt to swim once I was back home after the war. We do not talk about the war really," he said.
This VE day, Colin will mark the occasion by attending a parade in Oswestry as part of the Royal British Legion on Saturday 10th May.
"To thank them for their bravery and sacrifice"
A spokesperson from The Royal British Legion said: "The Royal British Legion will also host an 80th Anniversary Tea Party and Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum on VE Day, Thursday 8 May 2025.
"The event is putting Second World War veterans at the heart of commemorations to thank them for their bravery and sacrifice and the freedoms that we enjoy.