From childhood, John Lucas dreamed of serving his country and was so keen he joined the Royal Marines at just 16.

His daughter Paula Baird said: 'He signed up in 1938, but he was born on July 21, 1921, so he lied about his age.

'It was what he'd always wanted. He spent his time as a child, dreaming about joining up, and even after he left, he was still a Marine in his soul.'

Mr Lucas, who lived in Phillip Road, Waterlooville, served for 21 years and passed out as a Colour Sergeant.

He served across the world, including from 1940-42 in the Siege of Malta, a bitter campaign which historians believe helped turn the Second World War in the Allies' favour.

The siege, in which forces battled to keep hold of Malta as an Allied base, saw the island's food and water reserves reduced to just a fortnight's worth at one stage.

It also saw more bombs dropped in one two-month period than fell on London and Coventry in the entire war.

Mrs Baird said: 'He was at Portsmouth Docks and travelled across on the Queen Elizabeth. He was there throughout and withstood the worst of it with his fellows.

'At the end of the campaign the island was collectively issued with a George Cross, but there were only three individual medals, so names were picked out of a hat. But his service deserved a medal.'

After the war Mr Lucas worked as a car salesman from 1959 to 1980 and dedicated his leisure time to his family. He died aged 87 on October 26 last year and an inquest was held into his death this week.

It had been feared his collapse at home may have been caused by asbestosis, but a post-mortem examination discovered a blood clot in his lung and a verdict of death by natural causes was recorded.

His wife, Olive, said: 'When the ambulance arrived the manager of our building put an arm around me and said "he's gone".

'I got a bit silly and started saying "don't go yet, John, not yet". It's good that we know what caused him to die, but I will always miss him. We all will.'

Mr Lucas leaves daughters Susan, Paula, and Angela and son Paul, as well as five grandchildren.