WAR veteran and flight engineer John Young celebrated his 100th birthday recently at his home in North Berwick, with wife Jan by his side.

John was born in Dirleton on September 10, 1924, and was 14 years old when the Second World War broke out.

He subsequently left school at the age of 16 and spent six months working in the bar at the County Hotel in North Berwick.

He then went to work for local electrician Eddie Pound as an apprentice until all his men were called up, after which John decided to have a go at the railway.

He began as a cleaner, from which he graduated to a fireman and then to driver, where he stayed until deciding to volunteer for the Royal Air Force at the age of 18.

John trained as a flight engineer in South Wales and, on successful completion, was posted to Canadian Squadron 432, which was short of flight engineers.

He flew in Halifax bombers and was stationed at RAF East Moor in Yorkshire.

John flew 30 combat missions, both day and night operations, predominantly over the Ruhr in Germany.

The rule for bomber commands was that airmen who survived 30 sorties were then taken off the frontline for six months and, by the time John was due to return to frontline duties, the war was over.

In January 1945, the crew were sent back to Canada, so John continued to work with the RAF until 1947, when he was demobbed.

He then took to being a fireman again for a short time, then decided to rejoin the RAF for five years, emigrating to Canada in October 1954.

When stationed in Newfoundland, he met Rhoda, who taught at a primary school, and they were married in 1956.

While working as a technician at Deep River nuclear power station in Ontario, Rhoda, who had multiple sclerosis, had to be hospitalised in Toronto and so John was transferred there.

After she passed away in 1982, John returned to Deep River before retiring at the age of 64.

John then decided to return to East Lothian in 1993 and settled down in North Berwick.

Janet and John were excited to receive his 100th birthday card from the King in the post

He married Jan Millar in 2005 and became stepfather to her three children.

The couple now live in Tigh Mhor retirement housing complex on North Berwick High Street, where they enjoy spending their days together and John especially loves reading and has two newspapers delivered every morning.

John spent his birthday on September 10 with his wife, and then a celebration with family and friends took place on the Sunday to mark the very special occasion.

Stepson John Millar said: "He also likes to walk. We really need to nail his feet to the floor to stop him!

"But people that age, you can't tell them what to do!"

More celebrations were soon in order as Jan turned 95 on September 16.