War hero Hector Duff BEM is recovering steadily after being admitted into Noble’s Hospital.

The Onchan resident, who fought on D-Day in Normandy during the Second World War, was said to be ’his normal, cheeky self’ yesterday (Monday).

He is due to celebrate his 100th birthday on October 15.

The Royal British Legion Onchan branch announced that its president, Mr Duff, was admitted to hospital on Friday as he was ’quite poorly’.

Sheila Healey of the legion told the Examiner: ’He was doing amazingly well on Sunday and was dressed and eating and drinking when I saw him then. He seemed fairly bright.

’He’s continuing his good health from Sunday and is his normal cheeky self. They’re looking to get him well for his birthday party.

’He has his family there and a great support network with so many people on the island wanting to pop in to see him. His daughter has been reading out the messages people have been sending to him.’

Hector Duff was born in Sulby in 1919.

He worked on the Isle of Man Railway until he was called up to fight in the Second World War at the age of 19. He served in the 7th Armoured Division (known as the Desert Rats) from 1940 to 1945.

During this time he fought in the battles of El-Alamein in 1942 and the invasion of Italy in 1943 before being sent to the Normandy beaches on D-Day in 1944, which was the largest seaborne invasion in history.

From there they pushed their way to Berlin in Germany. Mr Duff then took part in the early work of the Nuremberg Trials.

He received the Military Medal for bravery for his war service and is a recipient of the Tynwald Honour and the French Legion d’honneur.