Norman Irwin, the oldest living man in Northern Ireland, UK, celebrated his 107th birthday today in County Londonderry.
Irwin was born on 17 November 1918.
He is a veteran of the Second World War. He volunteered in April 1939, joining the Coleraine Battery of the Royal Artillery as a gunner. Before long, he found himself in the searing heat of the North African desert, battling Rommel’s forces in campaigns that spanned thousands of miles. At one point, when tools were scarce, he even improvised and engineered his own guns. In 1942, he became one of the founding members of the newly formed Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). He rose swiftly to the rank of sergeant and served with distinction until the war’s end.
By reaching 107, he matched the age of Jacob Marshall—the oldest known man ever to die in Northern Ireland—who passed away on his 107th birthday on 3 February 2011.
LongeviQuest extends warm congratulations to Norman Irwin on his 107th birthday.
