Medal surprise for ‘almost’ centenarian ex-RAF WW2 aircraftsman from Invergordon

A 99-year-old RAF veteran from Invergordon has been presented with his Second World War service medal – almost 79 years after he was demobbed.

Uisdhean Douglas was just 18-years-old when he joined the RAF in November 1942, signing up to serve his country during the height of the war.

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The soon-to-be centenarian recently recalled his memories of D-Day in a conversation with his niece, Lynne Clark, who took the time to share his story with her friends on social media.

In doing so, Ms Clark was shocked to discover that her uncle had never received his War Medal.

The War Medal (1939 to 1945) was awarded to all full-time personnel of the armed forces wherever they were serving during the conflict.

While chronicling his stories, Ms Clark mentioned that she had his Dad’s medal (her Grandad) from the First World War, but she hadn’t seen his.

When she asked where his medal was, he replied: “Oh I never got mine, I don’t know what happened. I think they must’ve forgot!”

It was then that she decided to get in touch with the Ministry of Defence to see if they could locate the former aircraftsman’s missing medal.

Ms Clark said: “I got in touch with the MOD and they checked their records for an 18-year-old Uisdhean Mackay Douglas who left Invergordon to join up on November 3, 1942.

“Then, on Thursday, August 1, LAC (Leading Aircraftsman) Douglas 1574563, received his missing War Medal 1939-1945, which was first established on August 16, 1945.

“So, almost 79 years later the postie delivered it to his Invergordon front door!

“It was a very nice surprise 59 days before his 100th birthday.”

Stationed at RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire – some 500 miles away from his home in Easter Ross – Leading Aircraftsman Douglas recalls watching from the ground as bombers flew overhead on their way to France on D-Day.

After the war, he was sent to India aboard the HMS Ranchi, where he turned 21, now some 5,000 miles from Invergordon.

It was there where he bumped into his cousin, Merchant Navy radio technician Benny Bisset, where he celebrated his milestone birthday over “a dram or twenty”.

Mr Douglas is now preparing to celebrate another milestone birthday, as he reaches the age of 100 on September 28.

The senior member of five generations in his family, Mr Douglas became a great great grandad for the first time in 2024, and now has two sons, two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, Noah.

Ms Clark added: “It struck me how lucky I am to be able to ask questions and listen to the many and varied memories emanating from this absolute darling of a man.

“He will be 100 in a few months and with five generations of his own family he is of course the keeper of our entire family history – as any great great grandad should be.

“He’s still sharp as a tack, as they say, but less likely to be ‘down the town’ nowadays.

“It’s nice to know Invergordon has still got an ‘almost’ centenarian Second World War ex-RAF aircraftsman with lots of memories to share.”

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