MEMBERS of the Irish Guards Association travelled from across the UK to honour a war hero who died at the age of 87.

James Baron, who served with the Irish Guards during World War Two, died in Blackburn Royal Infirmary after a stroke.

At a funeral service Sir John Gorman, who flew from Belfast to honour his comrade, said: "We have lost a dear friend, a great and good soldier."

Sir John, former equerry to the Queen, said one of the things he remembered most about James was that every night when his tank pulled up he would dig a huge hole for the five soldiers to sleep in. This, he said, helped to protect them and also brought everyone together regardless of rank.

One of the stories most associated with James relates to July 18, 1944, when James was driving a tank at a German King Tiger tank. He was told to fire but the shell bounced off the German armour.

Sir John, who was the troop commander, told him to fire again but the gun failed so James rammed his tank into the Germans to disable them.

James, who lived in Lyndon House, Great Harwood, received the Military Medal on his first day in Normandy.

This and his other medals will be taken to the Irish Guards Headquarters where they will go on display with his photograph and other memorabilia.

At his funeral service, officiated by Rev Janet Heil at Accrington Crematorium, mourners heard how James had once been a Chelsea Pensioner but left 'because he said they were too old."

He returned to Great Harwood, where he had spent most of his life after a move from Clayton-le-Moors when he was a boy.

A widow since his wife Phylis died 25 years ago, James drove until the day he died and often visited the Lake District and Lytham.

Joan Starkie said her uncle had recently had an operation on his leg so that he could join his former comrades on their last tour to the battlefields in Normandy in October.

She said: "He had decided against the operation because of the risks involved but when he heard about the final regimental tour he had it done."

Joan was with her uncle when he died. She said: "He was still reminiscing in the hospital. My uncle was a good and loving man who would help whenever he could."