A WAR veteran who joined the Army because he could not find work during the Great Depression celebrated his 100th birthday with a party at his care home.

Sydney Gage was born in London, the youngest of several brothers who were much older than him.

Following the death of their father when Sydney was only five, he was brought up by his mother in church accommodation for those on poor relief.

During his late teens he walked the streets every day looking for work before enlisting out of desperation.

He served seven years in the Army and was recalled as a reservist in late 1939.

He married his beloved Alice the day before WW2 was declared.

Sydney served in the Middlesex Regiment and saw active service as a machine gunner with the British Expeditionary Force.

During the retreat at Dunkirk, he carried his wife’s wounded brother for two days before reaching the beach head.

Back in England, Alice and her mother had moved away from the bombing in to rural Somerset.

Sydney was promoted to Staff Sergeant and took part in the D-Day landings.

He turned down the chance of remaining in the Army and after a brief spell of working for London Transport, settled in Essex, where his first son Barry was born in 1946 and twins Diane and Graham in 1951.

He and his wife moved into their daughter’s granny flat in Parkstone in 1988.

After Alice’s death 10 years later, Sydney continued to live with Diane and her family.

He now lives in Ashley Court Care home, Lower Parkstone.

A Spurs fan and former Army boxer, Sydney enjoys watching football and boxing on TV and has daily visits from his family.

He has six grandchildren and one great-grandson.