He was honoured in a ceremony to befit the hero that he was.

Church bells of Durham Cathedral could be heard throughout the city as about 1,000 people filed in to pay tribute to the courage of Captain Richard Annand, who died on Christmas Eve at the age of 90.

The memorial service for the first soldier in the Second World War to be awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery was attended by Capt Annand's widow Shirley, along with comrades, old soldiers and civic and military leaders.

At least 25 standards of Durham Light Infantry Association branches and the Royal British Legion were paraded through the cathedral as Capt Annand's medals were laid on the High Altar.

Addressing the service, Maj Gen Robin Brims, Colonel the Light Infantry, said Capt Annand was born in South Shields, with 'impeccable timing' on Inkerman Day 1914.

His father was killed at Gallipoli. He was last seen waving his sword and shouting: "Come on Collingwoods."

His body was never recovered and Capt Annand, then six months old, was brought up to revere his father as the epitome of bravery. His one ambition was to show himself worthy of his father.

His chance came at the age of 25 when, while serving as a second lieutenant in the Second Battalion of the DLI, his actions won him the VC in action near Brussels in May, 1940.

General Sir Peter de la Billiere, formerly of the DLI and who later led the British forces during the first Gulf War, gave a reading from Pilgrim's Progress.

The service also remembered Capt Annand's unstinting work for the disabled, particularly in his role as founder member of the British Association of the Hard of Hearing - now Hearing Concern.

Shortly before he died in University Hospital of North Durham he said to his wife Shirley: "Darling, God has been so good to me. I have a wonderful wife and had a full life. I am ready to go."

The Dean of Durham, the Very Rev Michael Sadgrove, said: "When an old soldier hangs up his sword at the great age of 90, no one is going to say that death is wrong or cruel.

"We give thanks for a long, fulfilled life, and for an ending that brought it to a close with dignity."

Buglers from the 2nd Battalion Light Infantry, a successor regiment to the DLI, played the Last Post and Reveille.