Donald Rose, a resident of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, passed away on 11 July, at the age of 110 years, 199 days. He was the oldest living man in the United Kingdom.
Donald Rose was born in Westcott, Surrey, England, on 24 December 1914. At some point, he married Jeannette, with whom he had a son named David. He continued working into his early 70s, holding various labor-intensive jobs, including positions with the gas board, as a lorry driver, and as a bin man. He and his wife lived in Westcott until her passing, after which he moved to Derbyshire in 2000. Their marriage lasted 55 years.
In 1939, at the age of 25, he enlisted in the British Army and joined the Queen’s Royal Regiment, stationed in Guildford with the 7th Armoured Brigade. He served on the front lines of World War II as part of the Eighth Army, famously known as the ‘Desert Rats.’ His military service took him across Africa, where he played a role in key campaigns, and continued through the liberation of Italy and France. Trained as a sniper, he served in North Africa, Italy, France, Normandy, Belgium, Holland, and Germany.
On 25 November 2024, he became the oldest validated living man in the United Kingdom following the passing of 112-year-old John Tinniswood. However, he may have assumed the title two days later, on 27 November, after the passing of Haji Ghulam Mohammed, but his age has not been validated.
According to the Oldest in Britain website, which tracks the oldest individuals in the United Kingdom, his successor as the nation’s oldest living man is Hugh Kerr (born 9 October 1915) of Paisley, Scotland.
The source of the featured image is LBC.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Donald Rose during this difficult time.
