An Oxenhope-born man who fought in Burma in the Second World War has died.

Dennis Mitchell died in Bradford Royal Infirmary on Wednesday, aged 96.

He joined the army when he was just 17, lying about his age to get in. He was shot during the Battle of Sittang Bridge, in 1942, and the bullet remained lodged in his body for the rest of his life.

His stepson, David Wardley, who lives in Oakworth, said: “He was a gentleman. He never asked for anything, and never complained, even right to the end when he was in hospital.”

Mr Mitchell finished his military career in 1947 at the rank of sergeant major. In the 1990s, he helped to advise a war artist who was creating a painting of the Sittang Bridge battle. He is one of the soldiers depicted in the painting, which was first unveiled in 1997.

Mitchell’s funeral service will take place at 2.30pm on Friday at Oakworth Crematorium.