World War II veteran Allan Godfrey celebrates 100th birthday

Allan Godfrey has endured more trauma than most, losing close mates on the battlefield during World War II – but that’s not what keeps the 100-year-old up at night.

Allan Godfrey, who never thought he would live beyond 20, has marked his 100th birthday. Picture: Tony Gough

Allan Godfrey’s memory is patchy but he still breaks down at reminders of Japanese soldiers and their samurai swords.

Godfrey didn’t expect to reach 100.

But as one of the last surviving World War II veterans, he once appeared unlikely to live to 20.

“I didn’t think I’d make it,” he said on Wednesday of his milestone, after 12 months of merrily talking down his century prospects.

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World War II veteran Allan Godfrey. Picture: Tony Gough

“I probably won’t make Anzac Day.”

Godfrey served in Darwin, Borneo, Malaya and Papua New Guinea, convinced throughout that a Japanese sniper would target him as he transported wounded men on bogged jungle tracks

He got home unharmed, besides the flashbacks and trauma of losing a best friend. He still recoils at being unable to knock on the door of his best friend’s mother’s home, despite going to the front gate over and over.

He had initially joined the Light Horse, even though he was unable to fire a rifle or ride a horse, before being given driving duties, mainly because he was so short.

After his return, he married Thelma, had three daughters, and shunned Anzac Day and commemoration services.

But in his 80s and 90s, Godfrey discovered the pleasure of speaking to schoolchildren, who would gather to stroke the emu plume of his Light Horse felt hat.

They would ask if he had been wounded (no) or fired a gun in battle (no).

Some children, such as Kate Mahoney, who is in year 8, have drawn his likeness in his uniformed splendour to depict Godfrey’s “happiness and resilience”.

Kate Mahoney and her painting of ANZAC veteran Allan Godfrey. Picture: Supplied

He is one of the last – an estimated 4500 World War II veterans are still with us.

Godfrey, from St Albans, has been recalling his wartime experiences for a Caroline Springs RSL sub-branch documentary about the club and its members, whose war service spans World War 2 to Afghanistan.

There, deploying his twinkle-eyed charm, he bonds with veterans less than half his age over their shared pain.

He has given up driving and coffee.

There was a broken hip and loss of sight in an eye. But Godfrey still likes a beer. Today’s birthday celebrations have been kept secret so that he does not get overexcited.

At the Shrine not long ago, moved to the tears by a bugler, Godfrey tasted his first hot chocolate in 99 years.

He loved it.