THE exploits of a Second World War veteran were recalled at his funeral yesterday.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cant RASC (retired), who died last week aged 88, served his country with distinction throughout his long Army career.

He was a professional soldier from the age of 17, when he joined the Highland Light Infantry, and after spells in India and Afghanistan he served in France during the Second World War.

He was evacuated at Dunkirk, with all of his kit still intact then, in later years, was captured and taken prisoner in France.

He had been held for about 48 hours when he decided to make a run for it and although he escaped, a colleague was shot and killed in the attempt.

In another incident, he was strafed by a Stuka dive bomber and shot in the leg.

Lt Col Cant was instrumental in the Berlin airlift and, soon after the war ended, he walked across one of the few German dams not breached by the legendary Dambusters.

After serving in the Military Police and Royal Army Service Corps, he returned to England to be awarded a King's Commission.

He arrived in Sedgefield, County Durham, in 1949 as an adjutant at the former Army camp.

It was while posted in the village that he met and married Dilys at St Edmund's Church.

The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary there in 2000.

After continuing his long service with a spell in Singapore, the family returned to Sedgefield where Lt Col Cant took up the appointment of Officer Commanding the Garrison.

Even after he retired from the regulars, he kept his hand in with the Territorial Army, commanding the company in Darlington and Newton Aycliffe.

The family moved to Coxhoe but returned to Sedgefield where Lt Col Cant was a familiar figure regularly walking his dog, Timmy.

Survived by Dilys, children Pixie, Robin, Mark, Rufus and Rosalind, he was a grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of six.

Speaking at his funeral service in St Edmund's yesterday, daughter Pixie said: "Throughout his life he has always carried himself, in carriage and character, in principle and promises, as an officer and a gentleman, neither saying, nor having said, a wrong word about anyone."