A WAR hero was laid to rest today with full military honours
Wilf Oldham died on November 27, aged 101.
A service took place at East Lancashire Crematorium, Radcliffe, where scores of people gathered to pay their respects to Mr Oldham, who fought in the Battle of Arnhem.
Veterans, serving members of the armed forces, the police joined family and friends to say their final goodbye.
Mr Oldham, who lived in Radcliffe, served with the 1st Battalion Border Regiment (Airborne), and was one of the few who escaped at the end of the 1944 battle.
The Duke of Lancaster Regiment formed a guard of honour for Mr Oldham, a member of Bolton branch of the Parachute Regimental Association (PRA).
The service was conducted by close friend of the family, Reverend Elizabeth A Binns.
Songs played at the service included Max Bygraves rendition of We Shall Remember Them the Children of Arnhem
Father-of-two, Mr Oldham, was awarded the MBE in 2019 for commemorations and UK/Dutch relations in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas.
Mr Oldham never went back to Arnhem for 45 years and had gone back nearly every year since.
David Sharkey, chairman of Bolton PRA, said: "The Bolton Branch PRA said there last goodbyes to Wilf Oldham MBE. Wilf was 101 and loved life he often said he was living his life for all those he left behind in the battle of Arnhem during the last war.
"We now wish to raise funds for a memory bench to be placed in Radcliffe town, next to Wilf memorial plaque, as Wilf loved Radcliffe and Radcliffe loved Wilf for his commitment and service to the community."
To donate just visit www.boltonpra.com
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