A D-Day veteran who was the nephew of a Maryport Victoria Cross winner has died at the age of 94.

Edward Ben Shaw, known as Ed, was named after his uncle, Edward Ben Smith who, at 19, became one of the youngest soldiers to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the World War One.

Mr Shaw was a member of the elite 47 Royal Marine Commandos, part of a regiment created during the Second World War as a lightly-equipped assault infantry which specialised in spearheading amphibious landings.

He landed on Gold Beach and was later billeted with a family in Holland.

His son Alan said: “There was a young boy in the house who was about 10 or 11. He kept in touch with dad throughout the rest of my father’s life.

“Dad always spoke about the family and how good they were to him.”

Mr Shaw was born and lived in Ellenborough all his life. He was married to Eleanor for 68 years until her death in 2015 at the age of 93.

The couple had two children, Alan and his elder sister Doreen. He worked at the Bata shoe factory for 25 years until it closed, and then at Wharton’s Foundry until it also closed.

Alan said: “He used to joke that he finished off these factories.”

Mr Shaw was a keen bowler and was Maryport Bowling Club champion in 2000.

Mr Shaw died at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven. His funeral was held at Distington Hall Crematorium last month.