Hero of top secret Second World War mission dies at 101

Claude helped to crack Hitler's communications before D-Day

- Sentinel Reporter

A SECOND World War hero has died at the age of 101.

Claude Bell died 'peacefully' at the Royal Stoke University Hospital earlier this month.

The great-grandad's funeral service will be held at Bradwell Crematorium at 11.20am on Wednesday, September 3.

His bereavement notice states: "Claude will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him."

Claude had grown up in Burslem before moving to Porthill and Wolstanton, was educated at Moorland Road Central Elementary School and Hanley High School and married Elizabeth at St John's Church, in Burslem, in 1951.

In the Second World War he was recruited for a top-secret mission to crack Hitler's communications.

Claude described the role during an interview with The Sentinel to mark his 100th birthday last year.

He revealed: "I was 18 in 1942 but I wasn't called up to war because I'd been an apprentice telephone engineer.