A GREAT grandmother who served as an army cook during the Second World War has celebrated a milestone birthday.

Elsie Dewland was born in Broadwey and now lives in Westhaven House in Weymouth.

On Wednesday, February 22 she celebrated her 100th birthday at the care home with family and friends.

Elsie was also treated to a visit from the Major of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr Richard Kosior, who wished her a very happy birthday and presented her with her cards.

He said: "It gives me great pleasure Elsie, on behalf of Weymouth and Portland, to present you with a card from Her Majesty The Queen and also a card from Number 10.

"Happy birthday - what a fantastic age."

In 2010, at the age of 93 and while living on Portland, Elsie received her wartime Service Medal 65 years after leaving the Army.

Elsie was part of a team that fed 250 ack-ack anti-aircraft gun operators defending Britain in places including Plymouth, Cardiff, Milford Haven and Taunton.

She went on to cook for recovering soldiers at Hamilton in Scotland at the end of the war before settling back at home in Dorset.

She was sent the Service Medal and her HM Armed Forces Veteran’s Badge after her friend Gordon Black realised she should have them.

Elsie was born in Broadwey and still remembers catching the train at Upwey Station on August 3, 1942 to go to Dorchester and join the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

She went for training before joining the ack–ack gun operators and she remembers her time with them fondly.

Her army life signalled a big change from working at IJ Brown’s opticians in St Thomas Street, Weymouth.

After the war Elsie settled in Chiswell with her husband, Portlander Albert Dewland. The couple became sweethearts before the war after meeting on Weymouth seafront while out with their friends.

During the war Bert worked around the world as a mechanic on naval transports but they managed to get time off together to get married on November 22, 1944.

Bert worked at Craven’s Garage in Victoria Square for 38 years. They had two children, Maureen and Michael.

Sadly Bert died aged 72.

Speaking about the secret to a long life, Elsie said: "I don't drink and I don't smoke and I've lived a happy life with my family."