A much-loved war hero with Bomber Command has died after a final battle with ill health.

Percival Walder, known as Percy, died aged 92 at Coombe Nursing Home, in Surbiton, surrounded by his family after suffering from numerous strokes.

After volunteering for the RAF at the age of 21, Mr Walder completed nearly 50 missions during the Second World War and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal by King George VI in 1943.

In the same year the Warrant Officer from Tolworth also received the Path Finder Force Badge and married his wife Joan at St Matthews Church, in Surbiton.

The couple, who met at a dance, moved to Chessington with their two daughters in 1950 before welcoming another son and daughter into the family.

Mr Walder was a RAF training instructor until the end of the war when he returned to work with British Aerospace until he retired in 1985.

The keen darts player won many trophies for the Rhodrons Club in Hook and saw his family extended further to include seven grandchildren and five great grandsons.

Mr Walder’s daughter Yvonne Atkins described her father, who died on Wednesday, June, 27, as "one in a million".

She said: “Percy was very much a family man. Everything revolved around his family and his garden in which he took much pride.

"He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and acquaintances.”

Mrs Atkins said her father attended Veterans Day at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon every year, which brought back memories of his days with Bomber Command, which he loved to share. 

He was asked to put his signature on many of the pictures sold at the museum and his name is mentioned in at least two books detailing World War II missions.