The funeral of Three Towns war hero Ted Gear - who died earlier this month at the age of 101 - will be held on Wednesday, September 20 at Holmesford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn.

Ted, who had been living in a retirement home in Saltcoats, sadly passed away on Sunday, September 3.

Legion members will be paying their respects to Ted, who was the oldest member of the Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston branch.

Earlier this year the Legion branch president Paul Coffey presented Ted with his Second World War 'Victory Coin' to mark his contribution to the Allied war effort.

Ted was born on February 19, 1922 in a small cottage on Barry Island, just to the west of Cardiff.

He enlisted in the Royal Navy on March 26, 1940, and after basic training ‘up north’, he joined the ‘ship’ that was to be his home for the next six years - a Harbour Defence Motor Launch.

He sailed around the world with many convoys. His boat's duties whilst in port included protecting the bigger warships and cargo ships.

In 1942 whilst in home waters, Ted was given two days' special leave to marry his sweetheart, Betty McCallum.

They had met whilst Ted was on a run ashore previously in Ardrossan, and they had kept in touch.

The marriage was a rushed affair due to Ted's naval duties, and took place in the registry office at the ‘Iron Brig’ in Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats.

The couple settled in the local area, and Ted began a new career on the railways, eventually becoming a train driver.

Sadly his wife Betty passed away, but between them they had five children, nine grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, some of now live are in Australia.