War veterans from across Essex are expected to gather at Chelmsford Crematorium today (Thursday) for the funeral of High Ongar British Legion standard bearer Arthur Blowes.

Mr Blowes, who was found dead in a river in Chelmsford two weeks ago, was a distinguished and highly-decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

Veterans will form a guard of honour for the George Medal and Military Medal holder.

Joining them for the 11am service will be Mr Blowes' five children, 19 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His wife, Barbara, died 14 years ago.

Around Ongar, Mr Blowes was best-known as the branch secretary and standard bearer for the High Ongar branch of the Royal British Legion - a post he had held for 20 years.

He had frequently carried the standard at Remembrance Day services in the town and twice represented High Ongar at the Royal Albert Hall.

As a paratrooper, Mr Blowes had fought in the Normandy D-Day landings and had been present at Dunkirk.

Before the war he had been in the Territorials, but the start of hostilities in 1939 saw him join up with the Royal Ulster Rifles. He went on to fight in the north African campaigns before joining the push from Italy through to Germany and on to VE Day.

After being demobbed in 1946, Mr Blowes was again called up to serve in the Korean War between 1950-52.

He was awarded nine decorations which are now on display in an Aldershot museum.

In spite of his achievements and his work with veterans' associations, Mr Blowes was known as a modest man who told his family little of his service background.

His son David Blowes, 51, said he had only begun to discover the extent of his father's involvement on going through papers kept at his home in Broomfield Road, Chelmsford.

David said: "We were very surprised as he never talked about it. I expect there are now certain things that will never come out."

Although aged 82 at the time of his death, Mr Blowes had for more than a decade continued to work as a gardener at the Croxton Mill nurseries in Chelmsford.

According to his family, gardening had been a life-long passion for Mr Blowes.

An inquest is due to be held, but coroner's officer Stephen Parfrey said there had been no suspicious circumstances.

Setting the standard: High Ongar British Legion standard bearer Arthur Blowes. The distinguished veteran is pictured during the run-up to last November's Remembrance Day services

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