A Bexleyheath war hero insists his life ended when his wife died just under two years ago.
William Heywood, 89, of Stratton Road, is still failing to come to terms with his childhood sweetheart Eileen Heywood’s death which happened in May 2014 because of a leg infection.
Mr Heywood met his beloved partner at the Woolwich Polly dance in September 1943 and knew she was the one when he first laid eyes on her.
Mr Heywood with a picture of him and his late wife
With Valentine’s Day only two weeks away, the war veteran recounted his memories of his late wife.
The emotional former soldier said: “I went to the dance at Woolwich Polly while bombs were dropping.
“My friend and I danced with these two girls and I was dancing with Eileen and I knew straight away that I was going to marry her. I courted her at 17.
“While I was serving in the Navy, I stayed with people in Australia who cared for me like I was one of their own.
“The lady who looked after me used to have all these Aussie girls come round but I refused to take notice because I knew Eileen was the one.
“I carried on in the war in Hong Kong and I can still remember seeing the prisoners being rescued. It was and still is so emotional for me.
“I eventually came home in 1946. The first lady that met me was my mother and then the second was my dear, dear, Eileen.
“I married Eileen a year later in June and it was one of the best days of my life.”
The couple spent nearly every anniversary on June 28 in Devon where they would stay by the sea for two weeks.
The pair were married for 67 years and went to Lake Como in Italy for their 60th wedding anniversary.
Mr Heywood currently spends most of his days in his home but works at the Bexleyheath Conservative Club three times a week.
However, he admitted that when his 86-year-old wife lost her life - his one also ended.
Mr Heywood
The father-of-two added: “She passed away because of an infection in her leg which blocked her arteries.
“She was lying down in bed and she called my name, I said ‘what’s the matter, love?’ and then she died.
“When that wonderful lady died, that was the day my life finished.
“I just go through the memories of that moment all the time. The stories you hear nowadays of husbands hitting their wives are disgusting. I would never, ever, have done that to Eileen.
“I have got her will and she said she wanted her ashes to be put in the sea in Devon when I die so we can be together.”
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