John, of Muir Street, Law, served with the Allied forces during WW2 and was one of the first to land on France on D Day, 1944.

Once off the killing grounds of Juno Beach, John and a young Canadian soldier found a fortified German pill box in the sand dunes.

Although, as he admitted later, both he and his newly made Canadian ally were in a state of nervous dread, they carefully entered the pillbox where they captured six German soldiers.

He later said it was a toss up as to who had been the most frightened — he and the Canadian or the six Germans!

As he marched his prisoners along the beach, it was filmed by a war correspondent and it has since become an iconic image of the D Day landings.

It features in many of the books and films about the Second World War.

Injured later in the war, John was subsequently invalided out of the army although he retained his connection with the services with a life-long involvement with the British Legion and the Normandy Veteran's Association.

Born in Carluke in 1920, John worked on farms until called up for military service at the outbreak of WW2.

When he left the army, he returned to Carluke where he met his wife, Anna, who worked in the local post office.

After their wedding they moved to Law where they settled and became closely involved in village life.

A member and Kirk Elder with Law Parish Church, both John and Anna were participants in the Billy Graham 'Tell Scotland' Crusade of the 1950s.

For the rest of his life, John would retain those close links with the church.

He was a much loved and respected member of the village community and he will be sorely missed.

John is survived by his wife, Anna, daughter Annette and grandson, Kyle.