A NEWPORT pensioner has waited 65 years to receive his medal for service during the Second World War.

Ken Jones, 85, of Marion Street, Pill, who was a sergeant with the Royal Engineers, had never known he was entitled to the medal.

It was only when a neighbour mentioned having a medal himself that Mr Jones wondered why he had never had one.

Mr Jones assumed that paperwork had got lost over the years having moved house in Newport several times.

But Mr Jones said the medal was worth waiting for and was also sent The Armed Forces Veteran Medal.

He said: “It’s nice to get it after all this time.”

Mr Jones, born in Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales, was working on the railways when he was called up for service aged 18.

He spent a few months training in Chichester before being posted to Newport.

Mr Jones worked in the offices at the docks and had to report to Alexandra Road School, which stood near to where he lives now.

He was then posted overseas working for a time in Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt.

Mr Jones, who has four children and 11 grandchildren, met his late wife Doreen in Newport and the couple married at Summerhill Baptist Church in 1947.

After leaving the army that year, Mr Jones worked in offices near Old Town Dock for 17 years until he was made redundant and then for another 17 years at offices at Newport Docks until he retired.