Funeral farewell fit for D-Day hero

STRANGERS answered an SOS and provided a guard of honour for a D-Day hero's final journey.

- BY GILES SHELDRICK

Veterans provide a guard of honour at the funeral of Jim Justice, inset as a young man

Rifleman Jim Justice, one of the last surviving lionhearts of the fabled Normandy invasion of 1944, died just days before his 100th birthday.

Jim, survived by his wife of 72 years Joy, died at his care home in New Milton, Hants, on January 10.

His family had planned a surprise party to mark what would have been his centenary on February 13.

Serving soldiers, strangers, friends and family bade farewell to the great-grandfather of 10 who 82 years ago bravely stormed the blood-soaked beaches of Northern France.