A 99-YEAR-OLD Second World War veteran is the latest in a line of inspiring servicemen and women to sign a precious wartime logbook currently travelling the world.

The prized artefact was once used to track the movements of “noble” St Lucian Cyril Devaux who was an RAF sub-lieutenant and fighter pilot during the war.

The logbook now serves as a document, not only of his wartime efforts, but of those of veterans and civilian witnesses from across the world, all of whom lived and served “throughout one of history’s darkest chapters”.

Within its yellowed pages can be found the signatures of scores of notable people including ‘Forces’ Sweetheart’ Dame Vera Lynn; Japanese historian and Hiroshima bomb survivor Shigeaki Mori; Army Sergeant Benjamin Ferencz who was a prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials; American sergeant and death march survivor Lester Schrenk and Luftwaffe night fighter pilot Heinz Rokker.

Now, alongside the names of those who once fought on the other side to him, it also bears the signature of decorated Navy veteran Douglas Sayles, who lives in Heighington, Darlington.

Recognised in later life for his extraordinary heroism and for the invaluable contribution he and his comrades made to the defeat of the Nazi party, Mr Sayles took part in numerous convoys during WWII and narrowly escaped death on multiple occasions.

HONOURED: Navy veteran Douglas Sayles who is 96 years old and lives in Heighington has received a Russian medal to mark his service in the Arctic Convoys. A copy picture of Douglas from when he was 21 years of age. Picture: CHRIS BOOTHHONOURED: Navy veteran Douglas Sayles who is 96 years old and lives in Heighington has received a Russian medal to mark his service in the Arctic Convoys. A copy picture of Douglas from when he was 21 years of age. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

Douglas Sayles as a young man

He credits a guardian angel with keeping him safe even as thousands around him lost their lives, leaving with him memories that will never be forgotten.

In 2015, when he was awarded a medal from Russia for his bravery as a sailor in the Arctic convoys, he said: “Over the years, I saw thousands killed – I still see them.

“I saw ships I should have been on sink and every man on board killed, that happened to me time after time.

“It happened so many times that I think I’ve got an angel on my shoulder.”

Upon being given Mr Devaux’s logbook, he said it brought back “very clear memories” and that he still could not understand why he had been spared when so many of his comrades had not.

He said: “I can still see almost anywhere in the world if I think about it, I went everywhere.

“If anything could be learned from my experiences, it should be that you should not go to war and that the young people of today should not take life for granted.”

The logbook will now be posted to the Wethersfield Airfield Museum in Essex, from which point it will be sent to another notable veteran before eventually returning to Nick Devaux, who found out about Mr Sayles' service after finding a Northern Echo article online.

He said he hoped that the journey of his father’s logbook would summarise the remarkable experiences of those who lived through WWII for future generations.

 

FIGHTER PILOT: Cyril Devaux

Mr Devaux added: “It is hoped that they will appreciate the unspeakable, horrific suffering and deprivation experienced by millions on all sides during WWII and the need to strive continuously for peace and reconciliation.

“This token is dedicated to all who suffered incalculable and irreplaceable losses and to those who served in order to purchase the freedoms so often taken for granted today.”

For more information on the Log Book Project, visit facebook.com/lucianlogbook