THERE was a guard of honour by Newton Abbot Royal British Legion members at the funeral service in the Torquay Crematorium, on Wednesday last week, (NOVEMBER 18) for veteran and RBL stalwart Frank Harris.

He had died on November 2 at the age of 97.

For most of his life he lived in Brownhills Road, Newton Abbot, latterly in a nursing home in Kingskerswell, and in his younger days was a great supporter and president of Newton Abbot Spurs Football Club.

At the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Royal Marines, rising to the rank of sergeant and served in Crete and Alexandria.

Mr Harris became president of the RBL club in 1992, a position he held until retiring through ill-health in 2011.

His nephew Corpl Cyril Bearne was killed in the 1950s while serving with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders in Korea – sadly from ‘friendly fire’ from American planes.

READ JOHN BALMENT’S MONTHLY BRITISH LEGION COLUMN IN FRIDAY’S PAPER.

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