A 99-year-old former Royal Marine has been chosen as the face of a new military magazine.

Ernie Searling who lives in retirement home Heath House in Bushey will be on the cover of Left Right Left, a publication that shares veterans’ memories of life in the Armed Forces.

The supplement will be inside of Pathfinder International, the official magazine for people leaving military service in what is classed as their resettlement period.

Ernie shared his experience of not seeing his wife-to-be during the war.

He said: “Once we arrived back in Scotland, it dawned on me that I hadn’t seen my fiancé in four years

“…As I came down the steps she came rushing up and grabbed hold of me and said ‘we’re going to get married now’

“…We had the Parson come along and he told a few funny stories about me, he said what a flirt I was in the Parish and this had them all laughing and then, well then... we carried on with the war again.”

The theme for the inaugural issue was for veterans to share memories of their first day in the forces, and Ernie shared his experience of the start of his career shortly after World War Two had begun.

Pathfinder and Left Right Left editor, Mal Robinson said, “It was a huge honour to have the opportunity to interview Ernie and who else more deserving than Ernie to be the face of the launch for Left Right Left?”

Robinson added, “Speaking to Ernie was akin to a living history lesson, it was a pleasure to be in his company. Some of his stories about not only fighting against the Germans, but also the Japanese, in the same war, were incredible.”