A KOREAN War veteran who died suddenly after suffering a stroke will be given full military honours at his cremation.

Bob Marsh fought as a private with the 1st Battalion of the Gloucesters Regiment nicknamed the Glorious Gloucesters in 1950.

Most of his colleagues died in the Battle of Imjin River in Korea but Mr Marsh, a father-of-four from Penhill, survived because he was wounded six days before.

In honour of his Army career the Standard will be flown and the Last Post sounded at his funeral at Kingsdown Crematorium on Monday.

Mr Marsh, 73, died at Princess Margaret Hospital. He leaves a wife, Marion, to whom he was married for 50 years, two daughters and two sons.

His family remembers him as a devoted father, husband and grandfather.

Mrs Marsh said the Army was always in his blood. "He was very active, always busy doing something. He thought everyone should go into the Army," she said. "It is very fitting that he will have a military funeral. He would have been very pleased."

Mr Marsh started his Army career with the 2nd Coldstream Guards in the Second World War with whom he served in Italy.

He met his wife when he came to Swindon from Southampton after the war but they were married only a year before he went to fight in Korea.

When the Korean War ended he joined the Territorial Army in Swindon in 1953 and was in the Royal Wilts Yeomanry.

He had a number of jobs but worked for Thames Valley Eggs before he retired. He also used to drive schoolchildren until he was forced to stop through ill health.

Mr Marsh was also a member of the Swindon branch of the Korean Veterans' Association since it started four years ago.

Its secretary, Jack Howard, said: "Bob was very dry with a keen sense of humour and was a gentleman of the old school. He was a very staunch supporter of ours."

Mr Marsh's funeral is at 10am and his family have asked that donations be sent instead of flowers to the Korean Veterans' Association.