Wishing a very happy birthday today to Mr Robert Piper, beneficiary and dedicated friend of The Not Forgotten, who turns 101 today, 10th June.
World War Two veteran Mr Piper from Southwater in West Sussex was only 14 when World War Two broke out; he joined the Home Guard before managing to conceal his age and sign up with the Army aged 15 in 1940.
He served with The Royal Sussex Regiment and the Royal Corp of Signals during World War Two, taking part in the D-Day landings and surviving intense fighting in Northern France.
At the end of the war Mr Piper was deployed to the Middle East, tasked with establishing a wireless link between Amman and London, before finally returning to the UK at the end of 1947.
Mr Piper has attended many Not Forgotten events over the years, with his son Robert Piper Jr. Many of our supporters and beneficiaries have enjoyed speaking to him and hearing his stories, always told with a real sparkle in his eye.
At this year's Not Forgotten Garden Party at Buckingham Palace Mr Piper was overheard advising HRH Princess Anne humourously to 'slow down' in her duties!
Happy birthday Mr Piper - thank you for all you gave for your country at such a young age.
