Funeral held for Douglas Parker - one of Yorkshire's last D-Day veterans - following his death aged 98

Douglas Parker 98, who hailed from Intake, Sheffield, was among the first ashore on Sword Beach, in what was the greatest seaborne invasion in history.

Mr Parker, who joined the forces in 1941 at 18, was described as a “humble man who never forgot his mates who did not make it off the beach that fateful day in June 1944”.

Mr Parker, who served in B Company, 2nd Battalion the East Yorkshire Regiment, fought through France and ended up being part of Operation Market Garden as part of the British 3rd Infantry Division in Holland.

He ended the war on VE Day, just outside Bremen in Germany before being sent to Egypt and was demobbed in December 1946, having served for just over five years.

After the war, he lived in Sheffield and worked as a window fitter.

He was given a fitting military send-off with his family and veterans attending, and nine standards, including the battle flag of his regiment which was carried ashore in D-Day, on parade at Christ Church, Hackenthorpe, on Monday (May 24) with the service conducted by his son, the Rev John Parker.

Col Charles le Brun, chairman of the Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire Association, said it was a “great honour” to have attended.