VE Day veteran who survived attacks from kamikaze bombers takes lockdown in his stride

A veteran of VE Day who braved German and Japanese bombs in the thick of the Second World War has been taking lockdown in his stride.

Lifelong Battersea resident Patrick Sheehan, 95, has adapted to having all he needs delivered by his family, friends, his local pharmacy and has been overwhelmed with offers of help from the local community for which he is truly grateful.

The only thing Patsy – as he is known to many – says the only things he is really missing from his daily routine are the sports channels on TV.

The Chelsea fan, pictured above, loves horse racing and boxing so has had to find other ways to keep himself entertained in isolation.

He has rekindled his love of Irish music and, currently, if you pass by his house, instead of the roar of football crowds, you are likely to hear Foster & Allen or Tommy Flemming, with Patrick singing along while tending to his home grown tomato plants.

Patsy was born on Christmas Eve 1924 and called up to serve for his country in December 1942 – he joined the navy in January 1943.

His initial training was at The Iron Duke camp in Malvern, from where he travelled up to Scotland to board his first ship, HMS Revenge.

It patrolled the English Channel and the Irish Sea until after the Normandy landings, then sailed on to join the British fleet in the Pacific.

Allied ships came under attack from kamikaze bombers there, and lots of lives were lost.

The ship remained in Australian waters until VJ Day in August 1945, and returned to Portsmouth in June 1946.

Patsy had been due to attend the Royal British Legion VE Day celebrations – a service in Westminster Abbey and a procession on Whitehall – and so not to disappoint, his family are staging a safe distancing mini celebration outside his front door to commemorate this special occasion.