Bourne war hero taken on his final journey by amphibious vehicles in Surfleet

A Second World War hero was taken on his final journey by two amphibious vehicles.

Scores of people turned out to pay their respects to D-Day and Dunkirk veteran George Wing, 100, as his funeral procession made its way to South Lincolnshire Crematorium in Surfleet on Thursday last week.

Two Second World War amphibious vehicles, along with a piper, ensured that Mr Wing, who lived in Bourne, was honoured for his service to the country.

The procession wound its way from Spalding town centre to the crematorium for the service, which was attended by an RAF Holbeach representative.

Veterans’ champion Harold Payne has paid tribute to George, who was one of the many war heroes he had taken back to Normandy during his regular pilgrimages.

He said: “George was a gentleman and we will never see his like again. He was a placid man who never took anything for granted.

“He was a fantastic man who never told me that he was at Dunkirk and went onto become a Desert Rat with Monty. I knew he went to Normandy but only found out the rest of his war record after he had died.”

Mr Payne has known George for five years after getting to know him during a visit to the Anglia Motel in Fleet.

Since then, the two men built up a friendship and Mr Payne escorted Mr Wing around a trip to Normandy cemetery and battlefields.

Mr Payne said: “When I took him back, he became 10 years younger.”

Over the last few weeks, Mr Payne has been busy raising £3,250 to go towards the costs of the funeral.

Along with supporting the funeral organisation, Mr Payne has been holding collections in Tesco at Holbeach to raise money for Mr Wing. Mr Payne said: “Local people have been very generous with the fundraising. We collected £1,000 in two and a half days.”

In April, thieves had stolen money from collection tins.