AS A young man, Sid Stone was one of thousands of brave souls who stormed the Normandy beaches on D-day.

Amid the terrifying hail of bullets and shells, the infantryman saw his friend killed at his side and was himself injured during the World War II operation.

Despite his military experiences, the ex-Somerset Light Infantry soldier, from Forthampton, was called a quiet man by friends and family, because he rarely talked about his wartime past.

Relatives are now mourning the death of the popular veteran, who was the oldest member of Forthampton and District Royal British Legion at the age of 88.

His son Peter said: "Dad would never talk about the war and I think it was because he had such a rough time. One of his pals got blown up beside him at Normandy.

"Dad was invalided out after he injured his leg and perforated both ear drums."

Mr Stone recovered and worked in the garden of his military hospital, the West Middlesex, where his love of the land blossomed.

He moved to Forthampton in 1947 and became the gardener for Forthampton House, working first for owner Godfrey Russell and then his son Jeremy for 47 years.

Peter said: "He loved gardening and flowers were his passion. Even after he retired he did some part-time work at Fort- hampton Court. He was also a good carpenter and could turn his hand to anything. He played the organ at Chaceley and Forthampton churches and was a tenor for 47 years at Tewkesbury Abbey Choir.

"Dad was also a very generous man."

Friend Fred Remmer said: "Sid was an outdoor type and loved his own garden as well. He was a quiet man and kept himself to himself like quite a lot of people who've been in the forces and wounded."

Mr Stone was born in Daglingworth, near Cirencester, and went to school in Salisbury and Bath.

He married Doris, who died in 2007, and had two children Anne and Peter.

He leaves seven grandchildren Lizzie, Hazel, Sarah, David, Debbi, Vikki and Lisa and five great grandchildren Jordan, Birkin, Cameron, Hannah and Ewan. His funeral, conducted by Mary-Ann Preece and the Rev Tom Clammer, was held at Forthampton Parish Church and RBL branch officers and members attended. Mr Remmer gave the exhortation and epitaph and The Last Post and Reveille was sounded by John Lampitt.