Thursday, March 28, 2024

WWII Veteran living in Victoria celebrates 106th birthday

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A World War II veteran celebrated his 106th birthday on Thursday March 11th!

Albert Middleton survived two world wars, lived through two pandemics, and blew out 106 candles as of his recent birthday this week.

Middleton currently lives at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Victoria, though he was born and raised in England.

In his early teens, he was sent to Canada as a war orphan. Later in life, Middleton served overseas in the Air Force during World War II.

After the War, Middleton received a sum of money from Veterans Affairs Canada which he used as a down payment on a hobby farm.

Besides his full time job as a factory worker, Albert spent most of his time operating a steady stream of livestock on 65 acres of his farm in Ontario.

He was married and widowed twice and had three children.

Eventually, Albert moved to Victoria and began living on his own in an apartment across from Beacon Hill Park.

Then at 101 years of age, Albert moved into Veterans Memorial Lodge, supported by his family in Ontario, Veterans Affairs Canada, members of the Broadmead Care community, and dear friends who live nearby.

To ensure they displayed his impressive age, Veterans Memorial Lodge staff had to get creative and crafty when they realized birthday balloon numbers only go to 100…

And while the pandemic posed restrictions on the celebration, a small gathering was held with his fellow residents, which included a birthday cake, champagne sent by his daughter in Ontario, and some classic big band music.

Congratulations on 106 years, Albert!

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