UK’s oldest man, Donald Rose, celebrated his 110th birthday

The Gerontology Research Group is pleased to announce news that Mr. Donald Rose, the oldest living man in the United Kingdom, celebrated his 110th birthday in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK on 24 December 2024.

Donald Rose was born in Westcott, Surrey, England, UK on 24 December 1914. He signed up to the British Army in 1939 and served in the Queen’s Royal Regiment in Guilford, with the 7th Armoured Brigade and fought on the front-line during the Second World War. He joined the Eighth Army as a “Desert Rat” under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery in Africa and as part of the liberation of Italy and France. During World War II, he served as a sniper and Desert Rat in North Africa, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He also did his duty with the Queen’s Royal Regiment and earned a number of medals during his service. Among these was the Legion D’Honneur – France’s highest honour. Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Légion d’honneur is one of the most famous decorations in the world.

He worked even into his early 70s and had various jobs as a labourer, working for the gas board, as a lorry driver and also a bin man.

In 2000, he moved to Derbyshire after his wife, Jeannette, passed away. In 2020, at the age of 106, he moved to the care home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

On 25 November 2024, following the death of 112-year-old John Tinniswood, he became the oldest known living man in the United Kingdom.

UK’s oldest man celebrates 110th birthday on Christmas Eve (Yahoo News, 23 December 2024)

Alfie Boe sings Happy Birthday to UK’s oldest man (BBC News, 24 December 2024)

UK’s oldest man and war veteran celebrates his 110th birthday (Yahoo News, 24 December 2024)