A VETERAN who had written about his wartime experiences enjoyed a birthday surprise when his family presented his work to him in book form.

Ted Cogdell, who turned 99 yesterday, was “over the moon” to receive a published version of Two Pints and Two Bob Change at his home in Cwmbran alongside his daughter Sue. He also has five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The book, which he wrote in two parts in the late 1980s and 1990s, recounts his time serving with the 55th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment during the Second World War.

His notes had been left in an A4 folder until recently, when family members rallied together to gift him a memorable birthday gift.

Within three weeks, the manuscript had been sent to a Pontypridd-based publisher, edited and a first proof delivered directly into the hands of Mr Cogdell.

“I am over the moon to have this, I remember sitting at the computer typing it out with my two fingers,” he said.

“I had about 20 pages written and I thought that was it but it’s only when you read over it that more memories begin flooding back.”

Mr Cogdell had been called up from his hometown of Griffithstown to enlist into the first and only peacetime militia in July 1939.

By early 1940 his regiment were supposed to be Finland bound to fight the Russians, who were not fighting Nazi Germany at the time – but the Finns “capitulated” before they could reach them.

From there, Mr Cogdell helped to repel Nazi forces in Norway before serving in the Battle of the Britain, Sri Lanka, Burma and India. Despite the brutality of the conflict, Mr Cogdell admitted that he “didn’t find it difficult” to write about his service.

He said: “At the time I could discuss what I was writing with my friends all over the country.

“What I wrote focuses on the good times, the camaraderie was wonderful.”

Last year, Mr Cogdell was honoured by the Norwegian government for aiding in the country’s defence and in 2013 he finally received the Arctic Star, which sits in his collection alongside his Burma Star, 1939-1945 Star, Defence Medal and 1939-45 War Medal.

He had fought alongside fellow Gwent veteran Ray Lewis, of Tredegar, during the war and the pair maintain their friendship to this day.

Mr Cogdell’s granddaughter Edwina Bailey has heard of her grandfather’s stories since she was a little girl, and spoke of her delight that the book could be given to him on time.

“It started as germ of an idea that grew after my friend borrowed the notes,” she said.

“With his birthday coming up the idea to get them published came to mind and luckily we found a publisher who would do the work.

“The stories are incredible, he had some near escapes, but the parts about his family are most poignant to me.

“His mother was ill and he couldn’t come back but she survived long enough for him to see her before she died.”

Dave Lewis, of Publish and Print, admitted to being taken aback by Mr Cogdell’s memoirs.

He said: “When this came along I dropped everything I had been working on, I had to do this. It’s an honour and a privilege to meet him and share his story.”

The book is now available through publishandprint.co.uk