Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Oxfordshire Second World War veteran Les Collett yesterday.
The founding member of the Wolvercote Royal British Legion died last month, three weeks after suffering a heart attack.
Ninety-year-old Mr Collett, from Wolvercote, was among the thousands of troops who were evacuated under enemy fire from the beaches of Dunkirk.
Despite taking a bullet in the back he managed to haul himself into a rowing boat and make his escape across the Channel.
The service, held at St Peters Church, in Wolvercote, was led by a full Royal British Legion tribute.
Old friend Ken Bampton, who knew Mr Collett for 35 years, said: “Les was a laugh a minute.
“There must have been more than 150 people there.
“He was a great character.”
He leaves behind wife Gladys, two children and ‘countless’ grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
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