ARTHUR HARRISFamily and friends paid tribute to World War II hero Arthur Harris, who died at the age of 89.Mr Harris, of Wyman’s Brook in Cheltenham, received the Military Medal for bravery while serving as a tank commander in 1944-45.His courageous feats included helping his crew escape from a burning tank that had been hit by enemy fire in Normandy in June 1944.After helping his troops to safety, he made two trips back to the blazing vehicle to make sure there was no one left and that all codes and maps had been destroyed, despite being under enemy fire.A citation for the award described him as "an inspiration" to his fellow soldiers.It said: "Sergeant Harris served as a tank commander through the campaign in North West Europe."He at all times conducted himself with the utmost gallantry and coolness in action and has been an inspiration to his troops."Mr Harris had been called up in 1939 to serve in the Cheltenham squadron of the 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, with whom he fought against German and Italian forces in North Africa.In 1943, the unit was disbanded and he joined up with the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, who returned to Britain to train for the Normandy invasion.He landed in Normandy two days after D-Day and by the end of the campaign was a troop leader; a role he carried out with "customary skill and daring".His son Andrew said: "I’m just so proud of him. What he did was jaw-dropping and amazing."About 10 years ago we took him back to Normandy, which he really enjoyed."Andrew lived with his father in Thomond Close, Wyman’s Brook, Cheltenham, until he died while they were on holiday near Marbella in Spain.He fondly remembered his father meeting up regularly with fellow Cheltenham war veterans Douglas Gerrard and Ken Lloyd.He said: "They were like the Three Musketeers. They met at Copa in Regent Street at least once a week and sometimes as many as three times."They used to talk about their wartime experiences and knew their jokes so well that they would give them numbers and refer to, for example, ‘joke number four’. They were smashing guys."Mr Gerrard, 91, of Charlton Kings, also served throughout the North Africa campaign. He said: "We were great friends."There used to be eight of us veterans who would meet up, but over the years people have died and now Arthur has gone we are down to just two. We used to chat about our experiences during the war and how much the world has changed during our lifetime."Mr Lloyd, 87, of Suffolk Square, knew Mr Harris since they were members of the 45th Cheltenham Scout Troop as youngsters."We shall miss Arthur tremendously," he said. "He was an outstanding man who was highly thought of by everyone who knew him.""He had been over in Spain, but was back in Cheltenham a few weeks ago and it was marvellous for the three of us to catch up again."Mr Harris was cremated in Spain but a service of remembrance was arranged at Rodborough Church, near Stroud.Andrew said the family decided to hold it there because his father was born at nearby Selsey and still had relatives living in the area.
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