A World War II veteran with no surviving relatives celebrated his 105th birthday with more than 3,000 cards from kind-hearted strangers.

Ernest Horsfall, who has seen 27 Prime Ministers and five British monarchs in his lifetime, said he was ‘surprised and amazed' at how many people wrote to him.

He was showered with cards from generous well-wishers after the Royal British Legion called for the brave ex-servicemen to be honored for his landmark birthday.

After opening all his cards, he said he was looking forward to spending time with his girlfriend Margaret, 63, who flew in from Iceland to be with him on his special day.

"I'm utterly surprised and amazed at the number of greeting cards that came my way," he said from a seat in his home in Preston.

Ernest was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1918, three weeks after the Royal Air Force was formed.

He was married for 57 years and had a son and a sister, but they have both now passed away.

Ernest served in London during the Blitz before joining the Allied campaign in North Africa, then went to Italy to maintain Allied tanks, directing 23 Italian civilian mechanics.

Ernest says he still has vivid memories of serving with the Army Ordnance Corps in London in 1940 and feels lucky to have survived the terrible conflict.

"There would be swarms of Nazi bombers flying overhead all night and I knew many people that were injured or worse," he said. "On one occasion, our guard room was hit and six of my pals were killed, I was just lucky it wasn't my duty that night."

Following his time as a sergeant in the British Army's Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers between 1940 and 1946, he decided to take flying lessons at age 43 and was a private pilot for the next 50 years.

Ernest, who has met several prime ministers since leaving the armed forces, received a card from current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak congratulating him on reaching his 105th birthday.

Rachel Venables, membership engagement manager for the Royal British Legion, which launched the card appeal, said the sacrifices of servicemen like Ernest would "never be forgotten."

"The Second World War generation is inevitably diminishing, but occasions like this are an opportunity for the RBL to remind everyone that their service and sacrifice means something and will never be forgotten," she said.

While they may be diminishing, this 105-year-old has some great advice to share with those who have many years left on the Earth.

"The secret to a long life is to keep living as happy as you can and keep a straight mind," he said.

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