Navy veteran presented war medals 75 years after earning

Sylvia Dyde, who is known by her middle name Jacqueline, was given her war medals more than seven decades after leaving the forces as a surprise for her 100th birthday.

Despite serving throughout the Second World War, she never claimed the two medals she deserved for her efforts.

But 75 years after she was demobbed and returned to civilian life, Royal Navy officer Commander Andy Swain surprised Mrs Dyde on her milestone birthday at her home.

Jacqueline served as a signaller with the Royal Navy during the Second World War, with postings to Egypt, India and Sri Lanka.

Royal Navy officer Commander Andy Swain MBE presenting Jacqueline with her two medals

During the conflict, she worked coding signals at HMS Cabbala near Warrington before being dispatched to Egypt during the North African campaign.

Some of her work saw her communicating intercepted signals from Japanese war ships back to the code breaking experts at Bletchley Park.

While serving on HMS Anderson in Sri Lanka she met Lord Mountbatten, and when asked she told him her work was ‘a bit dull’.

Although he found her comment amusing, she was later reprimanded for not having the right attitude.

Royal Navy officer Commander Andy Swain MBE presenting Jacqueline with her two medals

It was only a few weeks before her centenary that Jacqueline’s granddaughter Caroline Meaby discovered she never received the medals for her service in the 1940s.

The former Royal Navy Wren (Women's Royal Naval Service) never even applied for them due to a mix of modesty and the possible cost of the decorations.

But with her landmark birthday looming, Jacqueline mentioned to Caroline it might be time to finally get her medals.

Caroline arranged for the medals – the Defence Medal and the War Medal – to be sent and got in touch with the Naval Regional Command in London to see if a serving sailor might be able to help with the presentation.

The presentation was made in the grounds of Woodland Grove care home in Essex, where Jacqueline now lives, by Cdr Swain MBE, chief of staff of the Naval Regional Command Eastern England, in front of Jacqueline's family and staff from the home.

Jacqueline with other Wrens during the Second World War

After the presentation, she told Cdr Swain: “I am absolutely thrilled, and to be given them by such an important personage is even more wonderful. I have never had a birthday like it.”

Caroline added: “I made contact with the Ministry of Defence who were able to send the medals through to me.

“Grandmama always talked to me about the war. She loved the travelling and it inspired a lifelong interest in visiting different countries and meeting new people.

“She is modest about her war service and never saw herself as a hero, especially as she lost family members in the conflict and her second husband was recognised for his service at El Alamein, but she did earn them, so has every right to claim them."

The daughter of a clergyman who grew up in Cornwall, Jacqueline planned to train as a secretary, but instead volunteered for the Women's Royal Naval Service aged 18 when war broke out.

Royal Navy officer Commander Andy Swain MBE presenting Jacqueline with her two medals

Weeks later she was serving aboard HMS Defiance in Plymouth Naval Base as an officers' steward – serving drinks and meals and keeping the wardroom looking spic and span – before being sent to Warrington to learn coding.

After war with Japan ended, Jacqueline returned to England and married Royal Marine Captain Richard Meaby.

She settled in Portsmouth, brought up her son Charles, and worked as a secretary. After the marriage broke down, she moved to London where in 1958 she married Freddie Dyde.

She spent nearly 50 happy years with Freddie, living in Ealing and working as a secretary in the city.