One of the Midlands’ few surviving D-Day veterans, described as a “one-off” and a “born leader of men”, has died at the age of 89.

George Burden, of Walsall, was a sergeant in the Staffordshire Yeomanry and fought in Palestine, North Africa, France, Belgium and Germany. He headed off to war in 1939 after training as a horseman.

By 1945, he had been awarded the Military Medal for bravery after seeing action as a tank commander, been burned, shot in the arm and seen fellow crewmen.

The Staffordshire Yeomanry was a part-time Territorial Army unit whose finest hour came in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. A mile inland from the invasion beaches, its tanks took the high ground and defeated the only German armoured attack of D-Day.

Three weeks later, Mr Burden became a hero as three tanks under his command opened fire after gun flashes were spotted from a German-held wood.

His Sherman was hit and driver killed in the ensuing battle, but hours later it emerged his gunfire had knocked out nine enemy half-tracks.

Despite suffering burns, he managed to walk back to the battlefield and recover his own damaged tank.

Mr Burden died at Redhouse Nursing Home, Caldmore, last Thursday. He leaves one daughter, Pauline Walker, and two grandchildren.

Mrs Walker, of Sutton Coldfield, said: “I was extremely proud of him. My mother Marjorie died when I was young and dad had to bring me up as well as working as a builder, which was a difficult task.”

Son-in-law John Walker added: “I used to stay up late listening to his exploits and it was fascinating. He was a one-off and a born leader of men”

His funeral is expected to be held at Little Aston Church early in the New Year near his former home in Aldridge Road, Little Aston.