He is just four years behind Australia’s last recorded oldest man, Jack Ross, who died at the age of 110 on June 3 this year.

As she does each year, Colonel Hope’s daughter Gillian Churnside flew in from England to help her father celebrate his birthday.

Other family and friends then joined them for lunch at Seafood Affair restaurant in Moss Vale.

Colonel Hope was born on October 9, 1903, in England and attended Tonbridge School in Kent as a boarder.

He was accepted into the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, graduating a second lieutenant.

He joined the 1st Battalion of South Wales Borderers, and served in Egypt, Hong Kong, Burma, Cyprus, The Sudan and Eritrea.

He married wife Vera in Hong Kong in 1933, with daughter Gillian born in 1935.

After being promoted to captain in 1937, he was sent to India in 1942 to prepare for jungle battles against the Japanese in Burma.

He spent two years in Burma and retired a Colonel after 32 years of service.

Colonel Hope moved to Australia, settling in Burradoo in 1971.

His wife Vera died in 1986.

He has since been a long time resident of Bowral House Nursing Home.