THE adopted children of one of Andover’s last Normandy veterans have paid tribute to their father following his death last month.

John Munnery died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, September 25, at the age of 94. The former Coldstream Guard served his country during the Second World War before losing a finger and being sent home during the liberation of Belgium in 1944.

The day after his death marked precisely 18 years since the passing of his wife, Audrey, and one of the couple’s sons, Richard, has since spoken of “how glorious they were as parents” to him and his siblings.

Richard is one of six children, along with Gill, Roger, identical twins Susan and Caroline and his biological twin Janet, who were adopted by John and Andrey-Jean.

“We all come from different orphanages and they adopted all six of us,” said Richard.

“To adopt six children speaks volumes of mum and dad, I think. Back in the ’50s it was tough to be adopted.

“But they chose to do it and they made that decision to have six children and I think that’s remarkable.”

Richard and his siblings recall a happy childhood, during which the family lived in nearby Chute, Thruxton and Amport before settling in Andover.

They also spent many a summer in Swanage, where the family owned a caravan and then a cottage, and would often go out on the bay – despite John’s dislike of the water.

“Dad hated the water, he couldn’t swim,” said Richard.

“He would be the only one with a life jacket on, and his little naval hat.

“But the courage of the man even to do that. He always used to put us before anything.”

John’s daughter Janet also recalls giving the teachers at school something to smile about when the family came to pick them up on the last day at school before making the trip to the cottage.

“They all used to line up outside the school and say, ‘quick, the Munnerys are coming!’” she said.

“They used to marvel at six children, a dog, a cat, a budgerigar squeezing in the car, and the cases and all the food on top. The car would be scraping the bottom along the road.

“And as the years went by more and more teachers would come out. It became quite an event.”

John is also remembered as a proud member of the Coldstream Guards, having joined the army at the age of just 18.

Richard says his dad was told his life expectancy would be just six days. In the end he lasted six weeks before a showdown with a German officer left him without an index finger.

“They were walking across the bridge in the middle of the night, talking to each other and out of the dust came a figure sitting on a push bike. And as they got closer, they realised it was German,” said Richard.

“He shot dad’s finger off. The bullet went right up his arm and came out his elbow.”

Upon his return he was awarded five medals, including the French Legion of Honour, the highest order of French merit, which he received at a ceremony at the French ambassador’s residence earlier this year.

n John's funeral will be held on Friday, October 18, at St Mary's Church, Andover. For full details turns to page 18.