ONE of Swindon's most respected old soldiers, World War II and Korean War veteran Jack Howard had died suddenly at his home in Longleat Gardens, Penhill. He was 80.

Only 13 days earlier, Mr Howard, secretary of the Swindon branch of the Korean War Veterans' Association, had attended a reception in London hosted by the Prince of Wales to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the war.

Mr Howard worked tirelessly for the association, especially after the death of his wife, Gracie, seven years ago. The couple had married in 1949 and had one child, Bev, now 53.

Bev takes comfort from the thought of the two being reunited.

She said: "He used to call her 'pet', and she used to call him 'old 'un'."

Bev's husband, John, 59, added that Mr Howard's life had been Gracie and his family he leaves four grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Mr Howard fought for increased recognition and acknowledgement of Great Britain's role in the Korean War. Veterans have often described it as the country's forgotten war.

Mr Howard was 17 when he was called up for Army service in 1942, serving in the Royal Army Service corps.

His duties took him to the beaches of Normandy just four days after D-Day in June, 1944, and he was also one of the troops who helped to bring supplies to the survivors found in the Belsen concentration camp.

He always said the horrors he saw there had been etched permanently to his memory.

He was demobbed in 1946 after seeing service as an ambulance driver in Egypt and a general driver in Libya but rejoined in 1948.

He served in a public relations role during the Korean War in 1950 and in 1952, he was mentioned in dispatches for gallant and disting-uished service.

His fellow Korean War veteran, association standard bearer John Beauchamp, 74, said: "Without Jack, the veterans' association would not exist here.

"No praise will ever do him justice.

"He was a quiet and an unassum-ing man, but if somebody upset him, stand well clear!

"As a friend, he was unbeliev-able, and I thought the world of him."

Funeral arrangements have yet to be finalised.