Video: Moving military send-off in Leeds for World War Two veteran Harry Thrush

Today the favour was repaid to Harry Thrush at his own funeral, as dozens of members of the Armed Forces past and present turned up to pay their respects.

The 92-year-old from Beeston, Leeds, who died on Christmas Eve, travelled the length and breadth of Yorkshire in the latter years of his life to attend the funerals of the fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

His daughter, Janet Smith, from Mirfield, said last week: “It would make us very happy and I know my dad would be extremely proud as well.

“He would see on the news or read in the paper that a funeral of a young soldier was happening and that would be it, he would be off on the bus on the day to pay his respects.

“We have no way of contacting all the relatives of the people whose funerals he went to so hopefully some of them will see this and come along. They will be very welcome.”

Harry’s funeral was held at St Mary’s Parish Church, Beeston, prior to cremation at Cottingley Hall Crematorium.

Six representatives of 269 Battery Royal Artillery in Leeds will carry the widower’s flag-draped casket while a standard bearer from the Royal British Legion will also be present.

Donations to the British Heart Foundation, Dementia UK and the Royal British Legion were made during a collection at the service.

A wake followed in a suite at the Elland Road ground of Leeds United, who were fortunate enough to count Harry and his wife Carrie as fans.

The wake included a performance from 1940s singer Paul Harper and his daughter Natasha.

Harry, formerly of Beeston but who more recently lived in Robin Hood, near Wakefield, saw action in North Africa and Italy during the war.

Over the last decade or so he was a regular at veterans’ events and remembrance parades across West Yorkshire.

And, at each of the funerals he attended, he always found time to speak to the bereaved and offer some words of comfort.

Last year Harry also headed down to London for the 70th anniversary commemoration of VE Day, where he met Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Speaking in 2009 about his determination to keep memories of the heroics of yesteryear alive, he said: “I’ve only started doing this over the last eight to 10 years.

“When my wife died, I thought it was something to keep me active.

“I like seeing the old army lads and getting them talking.

“It’s good to remember what happened instead of sitting there and doing nothing.”

The grandfather-of-five made headlines in 2014 when his 90th birthday celebrations were marked with a surprise message and photo sent from a team stationed at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

It included the grateful words: “We have the utmost respect for you and many thanks for your service.”