A MAN awarded the Burma Star for service during the Second World War has celebrated his 100th birthday.

John Harold Livesey, formerly of Golcar, joined the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at the start of the war.

His posting abroad meant he had to bring forward his wedding plans.

John, now living at Longwood Grange care home in Longwood, had a special party for family and friends this week.

The Mayor of Kirklees Clr Eric Firth dropped in to mark the big occasion.

John was born on April 26 1912, the fourth child of Zilpha and Norris Livesey.

He had four brothers and a sister and his brother Ernest, 96, also attended the party.

John left Knowle Bank School at the age of 14 and worked for his Uncle James at the grocer’s shop and Post Office in Town End, Golcar.

Shortly before the Second World War he worked at the high-class grocer’s, North’s, which was situated in Byram Street, Huddersfield.

On receiving his call-up papers he joined the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

He was then posted to Scotland for basic training.

Knowing he was about to be sent overseas, wedding arrangements were brought forward and on November 16 1940, he married Elsie Haigh at Scapegoat Hill Baptist Chapel.

He was then posted to India, where he trained as an electrical engineer and later saw action in Burma with 149 Tank Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps, for which he received the Burma Star.

After the war John and Elsie resumed married life.

They had two daughters, Nancy and Kathleen.

John worked for Elcar Ltd, auto electricians in Colne Road, Huddersfield, and became manager of their Brighouse branch Ignition Services Ltd in 1960.

He retired in 1977.

For many years John and Elsie enjoyed sequence dancing.

John, widowed in 1991, has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.