Funeral for World War Two veteran, who died at 101

A funeral has been held for one of the last surviving veterans who served in the Far East during World War Two.

Ron Gumbley, from Birmingham, who died in January at the age of 101, was 18 when he joined the war, serving with the RAF.

In a statement released earlier this year to confirm his death, his family described him as their hero.

"A proud veteran, who lived life to the full, he will always be our hero, greatly missed and forever in our hearts," they said.

More than 100 people turned out for the service.

Those in attendance included members of Gumbley's family as well as friends and those he had met through the Royal British Legion Club in Knowle near Solihull.

There was also a full guard of honour and representatives from RAF Cosford were also in attendance.

His friend Chris Jones described him as "a real gentleman".

"He liked following the horses, he liked football. He was an Aston Villa fan," Jones said. "He was full of life, didn't really talk about his service days."

Former Royal British Legion president Ray Warren added he was a "lovely guy", adding "some of the stories he came out with absolutely brilliant."

There were tributes paid to Gumbley, and a eulogy read out by his family as well as hymns including Jerusalem.

The service also included songs Gumbley enjoyed, such as Morecambe and Wise's Bring Me Sunshine and Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again.

Gumbley was one of 33 veterans invited as guests of honour to a national service in Staffordshire in August that marked 80 years since the surrender of Japan (VJ Day) and the end of World War Two.

During the event, he read an excerpt of Laurence Binyon's poem For The Fallen and later met the King at a reception for VJ veterans and their families.

In November, he attended a reception at Windsor Castle to mark VJ Day with the King and Queen and the Prince of Wales.

The BBC spoke to the veteran at his home in August - the first time he had publicly shared his story.

He said his main job was to get letters to troops and their letters back home and he recalled the difficulties landing in some parts of the jungle, and helping prisoners of war released after Japan surrendered.

One of his special memories, he said, was seeing Vera Lynn, the wartime singer who travelled the world to entertain troops and boost morale.

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