Donald Rose

Donald Rose
Donald Rose (aged 109) in November 2024
Birth:	24 December 1914 Westcott, Surrey, England, UK
Age:	110 years, 24 days
Country:	UK
Validated

Donald Rose (born 24 December 1914) is a British supercentenarian who is currently the oldest known living man in the United Kingdom. His age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).

Biography

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.

On 24 December 2024, he celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming a supercentenarian.

Donald Rose currently lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK at the age of 110 years, 24 days.

Gallery

Donald Rose, circled, and other training solders in 1939 when he joined the Queen's Royal Regiment in Guildford.

Donald Rose and his wife Jeanette just after the Second World War ended in 1945.

Donald Rose (aged 109) on 22 May 2024.

Donald Rose (aged 109) on 11 December 2024.

Donald Rose (aged 109; almost 110) with the medals awarded to him after World War II.

References

• GRG World Supercentenarian Rankings List Gerontology Research Group
• Donald Rose Gerontology Research Group
• UK's oldest WW2 veteran, 109, at memorial service BBC News, 10 November 2024
• UK's oldest man ready to celebrate his 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, Donald Rose, celebrated his 110th birthday Gerontology Research Group, 24 December 2024

United Kingdom's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E)

George Stanforth • John Mosley Turner • John Leng • Frederick Butterfield • James Harrow • Ernest Oxley • Harry Durrant • Arthur Emanuel • James Sellers • Walter Sandford • George Simms • Henry Norman • John Orton • Alfred Grant • John Evans • Samuel Crabbe • Joseph Randle • Jesse Yewdall • William Proctor • David Davies • Vinson Gulliver • David Henderson • Harry Halford • William Lee • Frederick Moore • Harry Laverick • Jerzy Pajaczkowski-Dydynski • Henry Allingham • Harry Patch • Stanley Lucas • Edward Anderson • Reg Dean • Ralph Tarrant • Harold Bracher • Frank Simes • John Mansfield • Alf Smith • Bob Weighton • Harry Fransman • John Tinniswood • Donald Rose