West Australian war veteran Brian Walley was just 19 when his bomber crashed into the freezing North Sea during a World War II raid over Germany. At the time, he doubted he would survive.
He drifted for two days, and watched all his fellow crew members pass away from exposure, before he was taken by German soldiers as a prisoner of war.
Walley spent three years in a prison camp, and said he was convinced at the time that he was going to die.
“We got shot down, got halfway home, landed in the middle of the North Sea in a howling gale,” he told the ABC.
“Five people flapping in the water. Two of them got washed away, never saw them again … one died that night, and the next one died the next afternoon.
“[I had] nothing to eat, nothing to drink and was nearly, nearly dead.”
Now, 85 years later, he has celebrated his 104th birthday surrounded by family who travelled from all over the world to his home in Margaret River, WA to mark the special occasion.
Born in 1922 in Cheshire in the United Kingdom, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force the day before his 18th birthday.
He is one of the last surviving veterans of the Second World War.
In 1976, he emigrated to Australia with his wife, Mair, and the couple were married for 76 years before he died aged 98.
They had settled down in Margaret River after taking on several mining and exploration jobs throughout the state, and went on to have five children.
He did not hesitate to say that his greatest achievement was getting married and having kids.
“Picking up my wife … and making sure she was Mrs Walley. From then, life was beautiful.”
The veteran’s two daughters and three sons were all present during his birthday celebrations.
His son, Hugh, said that his dad had always prioritised family and taught them valuable life lessons including being comfortable with who they are.
“Family has been important from when we were very small; we all had to treat each other well,” he said.
“[My dad is] honest, straight and someone to be admired,” he said.
The centenarian said his secret to living a long life was taking it day by day.
“After [the war], dying never worried me,” he said. “I just lived a day at a time. Some days are good, and other days are not so good.
“Every day is a bonus, and I’m still going.”
Image: Brian Walley
