A Second World War hero, who was awarded the prestigious Military Cross for his bravery, has died aged 95.

Father-of-two Arthur Plant, from Wolverhampton, was given the honour for directing artillery fire onto his own position in an attempt to repel the enemy while serving with the Lewisham Gunners in Italy in 1944.

His family today described him as a “true gentleman” who was “inspirational and courageous”.

Mr Plant’s youngest son Philip said: “I will remember him as a courageous man, and not only in the military sense. He was always a gentleman, who had the same manner towards a person regardless of whether they were the working man or the Lord of the Manor.”

Mr Plant, who was more commonly known as Bob, was born in Burton and was a pupil at Burton-on-Trent Grammar School. He lived in the town until moving to Wolverhampton in 1932 to work for Mander Brothers, starting there as a trainee and eventually rising to the position of sales director.

In 1939 he married his childhood sweetheart Winifred, and the couple lived on Woodhall Road, Penn, with their two sons, Philip, now aged 65, and Peter, aged 67.

Mr Plant, who died on Monday last week, was also awarded a Legion of Merit by the Americans

Philip, a chartered surveyor who lives in Tettenhall Road, said his father excelled at sport, representing Derbyshire as a golfer and Staffordshire at tennis. He  was also a past President and Chairman of Wolverhampton Round Table. Mr Plant’s wife, Winifred, died in 2006, aged 89. The couple had five grandchildren.

Mr Plant’s funeral will take place at Bushbury Crematorium on May 6.