Roy Maxwell wanted to be in the Army ever since he was a young boy, so it was a dream come true when he joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers aged 17 and then moved two years later to No. 4 Commando.
The veteran, who served during the Second World War, turned 100 years old last month and has now reflected on his life with "no regrets". Roy has lived in Bristol for around 70 years and he currently resides in Staple Hill, living independently.
He spends his free time enjoying a nice hot cup of tea every morning and watching old-style comedies and comedians such as the Two Ronnies and Tommy Cooper and also watching football and snooker. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and occasionally goes with a neighbour to a nearby golf driving range.
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That's when Roy isn't travelling - he's been quite the jet-setter over the last 10 years. When Bristol Live asked Roy what is his secret to having such a long life, he said that he thinks keeping fit whilst he was in the Army has contributed to his good health. He’s continued to keep fit by always being active and keeping a large garden in an immaculate condition until he was 82.
His daughter Jane adds that her father rarely drinks and he gave up smoking 70 years ago, as soon as the health warning was issued on cigarettes. When asked to describe her dad she said: "Everyone loves him, he’s always charming and polite. He’s reserved but always willing to help people.
"I recall as a child that he would always be doing something to help somebody. As a teenager it was always my Dad that picked my friends and I up from clubs. Even when I was an adult he was the first person to offer to pick friends and in-laws up from Heathrow who had travelled from Iran."
Roy was born in Rhyl, North Wales on February 22 1922 and was brought up on his grandfather’s farm. He married Tegwedd and they had their daughter Jane.
Army veteran Roy spent six years in the Army. In June 1944, as part of the 1st Special Service Brigade, No. 4 Commando landed on Sword Beach, Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, thirty minutes before the rest of the brigade. Their first objectives were to capture a strong point and gun battery in Ouistreham.
As part of HQ Troop, Roy came in at 0730 hours by landing craft, shortly after zero hour. As he and his comrades advanced up the beach under heavy enemy fire, the attachment of French commandos under Phillippe Kieffer peeled off to assault the German strongpoint on the beachfront.
On D-Day, Lord Lovat, the Commander of No.4, had brought his personal piper, Bill Millin, to pipe the men ashore. Bill famously played his bagpipes as his comrades fell around him on Sword Beach, Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer.
Roy and Bill remained friends after the war, when Roy would often visit Bill after he moved to a care home.
Today, there is a statue of Bill Millin above Sword beach and attached to each lamppost lining the promenade is a banner which displays a picture of a D-Day veteran along with his name and regiment. Roy Maxwell and Bill Millin's stand next to each other.
Sergeant Roy Maxwell left the Army aged 23 when No. 4 Commando was disbanded and after the war he had a series of jobs working with his brother in law in construction, a garage, a department store and a builders' merchants. When the builders' merchants was sold to Jewson’s, Roy stayed with them until he retired.
Tegwedd’s ill health meant that they were unable to travel together but Roy enjoyed many holidays with his cousin in Spain and when he was 87 had his first trip to Australia, travelling on his own to see an Army buddy from No 4 Commando. The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans organised the trip among others and Roy continued making these trips on his own for the next 10 years until he was 97, Roy also had his driving licence until 97 too, he's as 'fit as a fiddle' as the saying goes.
Roy says that he is so thankful for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and the travel opportunities he has had with them. He loves his involvement with them and is looking forward to many more outings with them in the future.
Recently, Roy has enjoyed a wonderful surprise party for his 100th birthday, organised by his family. When asked if he had any regrets in life he answered in a flash with: "No, no regrets, I'm very happy about that."
As to what is in store for Roy next, maybe when Covid-19 is less of a concern for travel it will be back to Adelaide, as he loves the sun there so much.
