DURING the fiercest campaigns in Italy during the Second World War, Alton hero Albert Larby saved the lives of his sergeant and his commanding officer after they were badly injured, although he was never given the award he deserved for his bravery.

A man described as a “fantastic guy and much loved” died on January 31 and would have been 96 in March.

Albert came to live in Alton when his grandfather moved the family to the town after he got a job with the council as a grave digger. It was in Alton that Albert met his future wife, Dorothy, when she was a 12-year-old school girl and possibly when he was finishing off his schooling.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Albert joined the Hampshire Spearhead Battalion which took him to Africa and then to Italy, and he was at the battle of Salerno.

During one battle a shell burst over him and his sergeant, badly wounding the sergeant. Albert carried him back to the Allied lines, but it was a long struggle and at one point they were about to be posted as missing.

Again, during another battle, a shell burst injuring his commanding officer and Albert carried the officer back to the first-aid post.

On returning from the war, he and Dorothy were married and moved to a house in Alton to bring up their three boys, Barry, Don and Paul, and for a while Albert worked as a grave digger before getting a job at Stringers Butchers in Alton.

Later, he delivered milk for Alton Dairies before working for Sainsbury’s in Basingstoke as a warehouse man, but his skill as a butcher remained with him as he also prepared the meat for the store.

He was a keen runner and also won the Alton Darts League twice. He was also a talented footballer playing for both Alton Town and Watney’s Brewery FC.

Earlier, because of his skill, the Army gave him special permission to play in a prestigious football match and his team won the trophy.

His grave-digging skills were called on one last time when he was asked to dig Viscount Montgomery’s grave at Binsted.

After retiring, Albert spent his time helping his sons and their wives and enjoying his large garden. When Dorothy died six years ago, he stayed on at his home in Elmwood Close and looked after himself.

His son, Don, said: “He was such a fantastic guy. He was always there to help everyone and was loved by everyone and he was like a father to all our cousins. He will be greatly missed.”

Albert died in Basingstoke Hospital and leaves three sons, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His funeral was due to be held yesterday at Aldershot Crematorium.