A DECORATED and popular World War Two veteran from Derby, who witnessed horrors serving in Burma, has died aged 88.
Father-of-two Harry Mycroft was also a Derby city councillor, milkman, ice cream man and once broke his back when stationed at Nottingham Road as a firefighter.
son Tom said after "working non-stop all his working life" he then became a full-time carer for his beloved wife, Kathleen, when she fell ill shortly after he retired.
Kathleen died in 2001 and Tom said Harry continued to play a "hugely active part in life around Derby" becoming the President of the Oakwood branch of the Royal British Legion and the chairman of the Derby and Derbyshire Burma Star Association.
He was also a school governor and an active member of the Friends of Chaddesden Park.
Tom, 59, of Hilton, said: "Dad was immensely proud of Derby and Derbyshire and was always on the go. I only saw him an hour before he died and when I left his home he got in his car to drive to the local shops in Chaddesden where he lived.
"He led such an amazing life and has taken such fantastic stories with him now that he has died.
"After doing all the things he did I think he deserved to go the way he did, quickly and without any pain."
Harry died in his car in the car park at Lidl in Nottingham Road, Chaddesden, on Sunday after finishing his weekly shop.
Tom said police told him two customers tried to give him chest compressions after seeing his father was struggling but he was declared dead at the Royal Derby Hospital.
Harry, of Spinney Road, Chaddesden, was born in 1926 and grew up in the Moss Street area of Derby alongside his siblings.
Tom said: "We don't have an actual record but the estimate is that he had anywhere between nine and 13 brothers and sisters."
He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15 and was put on the aircraft carrier HMS Attacker and then HMS Devonshire.
He saw fighting in Italy and then, in 1944, sailed to Burma, which was occupied by the Japanese enemy.
Tom said: "At that time it was a case of going out there to fight for King and country and Dad loved being in the Royal Navy.
"As is symptomatic of many former servicemen from World War Two, he rarely spoke about his time in Burma.
"One of the few stories he did tell me was about going to liberate British soldiers from Japanese prisoner of war camps.
"He said he saw so many horrors, the prisoners were so thin, he said you could pick up and carry three or four of them at a time because they were so frail and light.
"I would go with Dad to the Armistice Day ceremony in Derby Market Place every year and every time he laid a wreath he got very emotional.
"He wasn't one to show that kind of emotion very much, which probably says something about his time during the war."
Harry left the Navy in 1946 and settled back to life in Derby.
He met Kathleen working at Smith's tailors in Drewery Lane and the pair married at St Mark's Church, Chaddesden, in 1951.
Tom came along in 1955 and then his sister, Mary, who now lives in Alfreton, was born in 1962.
By now Harry had joined the fire service and was stationed at Nottingham Road station.
Tom said: "He broke his back falling on a job when I was young and I recall going to see him convalesce at a home in Parwich. He was completely cast in plaster and could only really move his eyes and his face."
Harry recuperated and left the fire service, becoming a milkman and USDAW shop steward.
Tom said: "That's where his interest in politics came about.
"He was staunch Labour and represented Osmaston ward on the city council.
"He always fought for the working man, which says a lot about his nature and outlook to life."
For years afterwards, Harry worked as an ice cream man, again around Chaddesden, before finishing his working life as a security officer at the former Williams Holdings industrial conglomerate, which used to be based in Sir Frank Whittle Road.
After Kathleen died, Harry became an active member in the Royal British Legion, Burma Star Association and was regularly seen raising the standard at military functions around Derby and Derbyshire.
Tom said: "He was always out at meetings. He was never in. To have that sort of energy even later in his life is something I'm sure we wish we will all have."
Harry also became involved in the Friends of Chaddesden Park which was established in 2003 and looks after the interests of the city park.
Barbara Taylor, from the group, said: "Harry was a wonderful person who was always so actively involved in everything we did.
"He was a good man and a good friend and we all mourn his passing."
Harry's funeral will take place at the main chapel at Markeaton Crematorium at 10am on Wednesday.
His family has asked for standards to be raised outside as his funeral cortege approaches.
Harry's grandson, Harry Sutton, of Alfreton, is a Lance Sergeant in the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards and has undertaken three tours of Afghanistan.
The 26-year-old will lead the cortege into the grounds and will then place his grandfathers medals, cap badge and beret on his coffin before the service begins.
The funeral will be followed by a celebration of his life at the Mickleover branch of the Royal British Legion, in Poppyfields Drive.
Harry leaves two children and five grandchildren.
Tom said: "Dad was so proud when Harry followed him into the armed services and I know Harry will be proud to do this for his grandad.
"Dad has a full and rich life and I am sure many old comrades and friends will be there to salute him off."
