D-DAY VETERAN ALEC PENSTONE HEADS ACROSS THE CHANNEL FOR COMMEMMORATION EVENT IN FRANCE

99-year-old Alec Penstone – who was on the beach in Normandy on D-Day in 1944 – is currently in France an event marking the 80th Anniversary of the invasion. Alec, who lives on the Isle of Wight, was one of the last Arctic Convoy survivors to attend with only 15 veterans able to go of whom only 7 could still stand up. Alec was also the only one who was at D-Day on the 6th June 1944. The Arctic Convoys took vital supplies to Russia during the Second World War to aid their battles against Nazi Germany. Alec also took part in the D-Day invasion of France on the 6th June 1944. Subsequently, his warship was sent to the Pacific Theatre of War to fight against the Japanese. Alec was also Royal Naval ASDIC operator charged with listening for and detecting U-boats. He lives on the Isle of Wight and is believed to be the last survivor of the Pacific War living here. His war and life story are full of unforgettable events which he can recall in amazing detail. For the last year, together with 5 friends, Alec has recorded his memories which form the basis of this Book. It is entitled My Ten and a Half Arctic Convoys and the Rest of my Life. The book detail’s his life story but the centrepiece is his Arctic Convoy and Second World War experiences. The Book comprises just over 33,000 words with over 20 photographs. Alec’s collection of his war memories fall into 5 phases.

• Phase 1 –  Alec was 14 when War broke out in September 1939. He lived in Tottenham, North London and joined the Fire Watching and Air Raid Precaution. The Battle of Britain was fought during some of this time in the skies above him.
• Phase 2 – 1943 when Alec joined the Royal Navy at 18 as an ASDIC operator and underwent initial training.
• Phase 3  – Ten and a Half Arctic Convoys.
• Phase 4 – The D-Day Invasion.
• Phase 5  – Alec’s deployment to the Pacific Theatre of the War.

The Book is self-published by Penstone Publishing Company Limited in a 150-page paperback at a price of £16 plus £4 for packing and postage. A DVD or Memory Stick of Alec discussing his Second World War experiences is also available. This costs £12 plus £3 for packing and postage.

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