Festival of Remembrance to feature Dennis 'Spike' Jones

Dennis "Spike” Jones signed up for the Royal Navy when he was 16 and has now been invited to be a special guest e at the annual Festival of Remembrance on BBC One.

A veteran of the Battle of the Atlantic, Dennis also served in the Pacific, the Korean War and worked for the navy and then Royal British Legion.

By his own admission, he has given a lifetime of service to the country.

The Advertiser connected BBC bosses with Dennis and his family, who accepted the invitation to be on stage for the annual prime-time service on Saturday.

The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, to be attended by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Royal Albert Hall, will feature a number of musical stars and the familiar displays of military music.

The even will particularly mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic 80 years ago, the longest military campaign of the Second World War.

It is also the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.

And Dennis was part of both amongst a lifetime of service to the country.

Dennis 'Spike' Jones (Image: Ann Stewart)

The Battle of the Atlantic saw the navy escorting ships of supplies and soldiers across the ocean protecting them from German submarine and naval attacks.

“It was something we got on with,” said Atlantic Star medal holder Dennis. “We didn’t consider that we were in the middle a rather nasty occasion for the best too three or more years.

“You were in trouble on two fronts: there was the cold in the winter and nasty things below you.

“I joined as a boy - I thought it would be a bit of an exciting caper. But it’s a lot different.”

In May, services were held to mark the Battle of the Atlantic at St Michael and All Angels Church and at Helensburgh War Memorial.

Daughter Diane, who lives in St Louis, Missouri, was over in May and is currently visiting again and said they've been telling "everyone" in the town about Dennis being on TV.

Atlantic Star holder Dennis Spike Jones with his daughter Diane Carson who is over from America on a visit in May

She’ll be escorting her dad to London on Friday with son Alex and his children Lucas, nine and Emma, 10, hoping they’ll be able to catch the show from America.

Dennis said: “In the background you knew you’ve got to keep at it and do what you’re out there to do. Practically all of my life has been involved in the navy.

"While you’re out there, you do think you’re out to whack these other guys - you are the shield.

“In your mind you always are aware you are fighting on behalf of your country and your friends and your family. You have that constant pride in what you’re doing.

“You have that knowledge behind you that you are the shield for your friends, your family and your country.”

Dennis said he was looking forward to going to the service at the weekend, adding: “It does make you recall your times that you went through and be bloody grateful that you are where you are nowadays.”

He added: “I feel a great pride in thinking back to what I did and how I’m here now and how me and my mates sorted it. Pride in all my fellow service people. I never really worked in civil jobs.”

Dennis has been recognised for his service with the Arctic Convoys during the war too and also served in Suez amongst his long career.

He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander with the Royal Navy before retiring in 1974. He was on hand to see the local branch of Legion Scotland reborn last year.

The Legion's service on Saturday will see hundreds of women and men from the armed forces across the decades join together in remembrance.

When asked if he has any advice for younger members serving their country, he told the Advertiser: “Pay attention to what your job is and if you can’t get on with someone else, you better bloody soon learn to.

"We shouldn’t be walking over other people’s lands. Are we men or animals? Sometimes I wonder.”

Daughter Diane said they had been family pride in the national stage her dad will feature on, but also the pride of Helensburgh.

“I’m really proud of my dad and I think we’ve told the whole of Helensburgh that he’s going to be on television,” she said.

“I think it’s great that they’re honouring these guys - the greatest generation - and they certainly are.

“My dad never really talked much about his service. My son and grandchildren are upset they won’t be able to be there but they’re very proud of him.

“I think there’s a great deal of pride that someone like my dad is still alive, is still living here, still has all his faculties - they can’t believe that he’s 99.

“And they’re really excited. I think they come from a place of pride. Somebody like my dad is representing the Royal Navy.

“We were at the veterans lunch the other week and they made the announcement that he was going to go down and they all applauded. And everyone has come down to say they’re so proud. So there’s a real feeling of civic pride.”