On 7th May 2025, Beryl Thornton, one of the last surviving members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), marked her 101st birthday, just one day before the UK commemorated the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
Beryl, a resident at Camberley Heights Care Home, part of Avery Healthcare, was honoured at a special celebration at Surrey Heath House, attended by family, friends, and dignitaries.
The event began with the raising of the Union Flag, followed by a ceremony. Representatives from the Armed Forces and the Mayor of Surrey Heath, Councillor Sabi King, were in attendance.
The Mayor gave a moving tribute, saying, “Beryl’s life is an inspiration to us all. The courage and dedication she showed during World War II is something we will never forget.”
Beryl, visibly touched, responded with her own warm words, “It’s such a special way to celebrate my 101st birthday. To have my story recognised in this way is something I never imagined would happen. It’s been such a privilege to serve my country, and to be here today, surrounded by so many wonderful people, is truly a gift.”
Beryl’s birthday celebrations will continue on Saturday 10th May with a charity fundraising dinner at the VE celebrations evening at Camberley Heights Care Home, where she will be joined by her son Keith.
The event will raise funds for the Royal British Legion Camberley Branch, a cause close to Beryl’s heart.
“The Royal British Legion does so much for veterans, and I’m proud to be part of that community,” said Beryl.
Born on 7th May 1924, Beryl joined the WRNS in 1943, serving as a coder for the Government Code and Cypher School.
She worked at key locations, including HMS Cochrane II in Scotland, and later sailed aboard HMS Otranto to Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). There, Beryl narrowly escaped a torpedo attack on a nearby ship, HMS Khedive Ismail.
“We only found out when we arrived back, otherwise we would have been terrified,” Beryl recalled. “But I was fortunate, and it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Her role in encrypting and decrypting vital military messages helped sustain allied communications in the Far East.
“The work we did was crucial, and we knew how important it was, even if we couldn’t always talk about it,” Beryl explained. “It was a tough time, but there were moments of joy, too. The friendships we made and the camaraderie with the Navy and American forces kept us going.”
Ian Chandler, Home Manager at Camberley Heights Care Home, reflected, “Beryl’s life is a real picture into the bravery and sacrifice of so many during the war. We are incredibly proud to honour her at this significant moment in history. Her story is a reminder of the incredible contributions made by women during WWII, and it is an honour to be part of her journey.”
To learn more about Camberley Heights Care Home, click here. Or, take a virtual tour of Camberley Heights Care Home.
