Britain's oldest World War Two veteran dies aged 109 as connection to celebrity granddaughter revealed

Mr Waddingham’s granddaughter is actress Hannah Waddingham, known for roles in Ted Lasso and Sex Education among others.

Announcing his death, the East Sussex Branch of the Royal Navy Association said the 109-year-old was “truly one of the last of our greatest generation”.

The statement added: “He lived a long and full life and he will be greatly missed. RIP Shipmate, your duty is done, we have the watch.”

Ms Waddingham proudly paid tribute to her grandfather at last year’s Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance with an emotional rendition of We’ll Meet Again.

Mr Waddingham served in the Royal Navy from 1932, serving on six ships and surviving the sinking of two.

Born in 1916, he served from the very first day of World War II.

He rose through the Royal Navy ranks from able seaman to sub lieutenant.

One of his more dramatic experiences in the Navy will have been the sinking of HMS Wakeful after a torpedo strike split it in two.

The vessel was picking up soldiers from the Dunkirk beach evacuation when it was targeted by a German E-boat.

Recalling the experience, Mr Waddingham said: “Really you never slept and my memory of those days was constant tiredness.

“And hardly being able to stand.

“But suddenly there was a bang and the ship went down.

“Those who were on the outer part of the upper deck must have been catapulted into the air and dropped into the sea.

“There were 600 soldiers plus a ship’s crew of about 200.

“Only those on the upper deck survived.”

A year later he was on board HMS Juno when it became the target of an enemy bombing blitz.

She was hit by three bombs while evacuating Crete, splitting the ship in half and sinking it in two minutes.

He was discharged at the end of the war with the rank of lieutenant.

The soldier became a school teacher before working with the RAF educational wing.