95 year old WW2 veteran from Harold Hill beats Covid to make full recovery and be back walking.
95 year old Harry Bass is a truly amazing man. Not only is he a WW2 hero, but has now fought off Covid to make a full recovery and be back home with his family in Harold Hill.
The 95 year old great grandfather is believed to be the oldest man in Havering to have beaten Covid after four weeks in hospital thanks to his own strength and determination to get better.
Harry is a remarkable man who joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17 years old and has recently been awarded the Royal Naval Association Certificate of Appreciation, a huge mark of esteem and respect for this amazing gentleman.
Harry has been the Chairperson of the Romford Naval Association for many years and is an all round community hero.
Harry told the Havering Daily: “I was in hospital for four weeks, two days I was on oxygen that kept me alive and I didn’t really know much about anything. After that, I told them to remove my catheter as I wanted to walk to the toilet myself and I did. I’m pretty well now, my chest doesn’t hurt anymore.” Harry’s own incredible determination and strength helped get past this terrible virus.
Harry has an amazing history behind him. At the age of just 16 years old he joined the Home Guard.
“When I was 16 years old I was standing on Tower Bridge with a rifle protecting it. The IRA had threatened to blow our bridges up during the Blitz and my job was to stand on the bridge and guard it. Our base was at Leiman Street and from there we would march across to Tower Bridge.
“I first volunteered for the Navy at the age of 17 years old, where I was based at East India Dock Road. I wanted to be a Dems Gunner but I couldn’t so I joined the Fleet Air Arm. We trained for months to do parachute drops ready for the Resistance and the D Day landing.
“When the war finished I was sent to India and spent a year there.”
Harry moved to Harold Hill in 1946 and has been there ever since. He spent thirty years working as a machine operator for the Daily Express in Fleet Street until he retired thirty years ago.
“I was very lucky to beat Covid and very determined to start walking again. The nurses in the ward presented me with my own walking stick for my efforts to keep walking.”
Harry’s eldest daughter Irene told the Havering Daily: “This goes to show that the elderly can recover and recover undamaged. He is a little bit fragile now but he’s still walking and getting about.”
Harry is an amazing gentleman who really is a community hero!
