A SOLIHULL veteran who spent her military life cracking German messages has a leading role in this year’s Royal Star and Garter Remembrance campaign.
Annie, who has been affectionately been known all her life as Nanza, tells her story of life in the Second World War as part of the care home’s They Gave Their All For Us initative.
This year the charity, which cares for veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, focuses on how young some of the charity’s residents were when they joined the Armed Forces and how it gives back to them each day.
Nanza was 20 when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1943, and worked as a Wireless Operator, learning Morse code and helping decipher coded German messages.
It also features Connie who joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service at the age of 17 and now lives at the Surbiton Home.
And it features Jim from the High Wycombe home who signed up to the Navy at 15, in 1959 and during his 12-year career, he “chased hurricanes” in the Caribbean and helped rebuild communities devastated by tropical storms.
Pauline Shaw, director of care at Royal Star and Garter, said: ”A lot has been said about service and sacrifice since the death of our patron, Her Majesty The Queen.
“These are traits seen within our Homes.
“The people we care for were willing to risk everything for the good of our country and the world we live in.
“They gave their all for us, and in their times of need, we are now here for them. At Royal Star & Garter we give back every day and thank them for everything they did, with our loving care.”
