A former infantry soldier who spent more than three years as a prisoner of war after being captured by the Nazis has died aged 96.
Douglas Holdsworth, of Baildon, was one of the last surviving members of the historic Green Howards regiment to have served in the Second World War.
The great-grandfather was just a few feet away from German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, also known as the Desert Fox, when he was captured in North Africa towards the start of the conflict.
A keen ballroom dancer, he taught fellow soldiers to dance to help raise morale during his time in POW camps in Germany and Italy.
His daughter, Karen Royston, said Mr Holdsworth, whose parents and later his brother ran a pie and peas shop near Fox Corner, Shipley, would be remembered as a kind and gentle man.
She said: “He often donated money to the Red Cross. He said without the Red Cross food parcels he wouldn’t have survived because he didn’t smoke so he had no cigarettes to bargain with in the camps.
“He had a Nazi flag that had hung on an aerodrome in a prison camp and still had the spoon he had used in the camps. He was just a few feet away from Rommel when he was captured and was surprised by how small he was. He never spoke about the fighting, he was the most gentle of gentlemen and was kind and helpful.”
Mr Holdsworth, who worked as a company cashier, continued to dance after leaving the Army and met his wife Dorothy while teaching a class at the Masonic Hall in Bradford.
The couple, who moved to Troutbeck Care Home in Ilkley last year, enjoyed sports and were members of Salts Tennis Club.
Mr Holdsworth also represented Bradford and Yorkshire at billiards and coached world snooker champion Joe Johnson.
He also leaves daughters Janine Coates and Davida Norton as well as three grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
His funeral will be held on Wednesday, July 18 at 3.20pm at Nab Wood Crematorium.
A collection will be taken for the Red Cross.