An Usk war veteran has died two weeks before his memoirs are due to be published.

Alfred Leighton Bowen, who would have been 95 this month, saw active service during the Second World War, joining the North Somerset Yeomanry in 1938.

Leighton, as he preferred to be called, was first dispatched to Crete, where he was part of a rearguard action against invading German forces.

He was eventually captured by the Germans, trying to escape on several occasions but being caught every time.For full story see Beacon 06/04/11.