By Isle of Wight Observer
WWII war hero, Alec Penstone, passed away at Mountbatten Hospice yesterday, following a short illness. Alec, a much‑loved figure across the Island, celebrated his 101st birthday on April 23 – fittingly St George’s Day. On the day, he was delighted to welcome family and friends to the care home he had moved to after suffering a fall at home.
A veteran of the Arctic Convoys and the D‑Day landings, Alec’s extraordinary courage brought him national attention, and he took great pleasure in sharing stories of his experiences and escapades, during the war years, with military comrades and civilians alike.
The IW Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Ian Dore, said: “Alec was one of the old guard, somebody who has been and done everything, but for me it was his adventures in the Arctic Convoys (which he described in his book ‘My 10½ Arctic Convoys’) that made him a very special comrade. At Armed Forces Day 2024 he read out the Kohima Epitaph. When he said: ‘For your tomorrow, we gave our today.’ There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Having said that he always said he was one of the lucky ones that got to come home.
“He will be sadly missed.”
The IW Observer team sends condolences to Alec’s family and loved ones. A full obituary will appear next week.
You can watch a short video of Alec and his beloved late wife Gladys dancing at iw.observer/alec-and-gladys.
