The life of Hector Duff, one of the greatest ever Manxmen, who died at the age of 101 last week, will be celebrated at his funeral later this week, writes Sam Turton.

From working the railways to fighting in the Second World War, serving in the island’s police force and dedicating years of his retirement to educating the island’s children of his experiences of war, Mr Duff dedicated his entire adult life to service of his country and his community.

Mr Duff grew up as one of three siblings. In an interview with Culture Vannin, he said his father died when he was eight and his mother had brought up the children while working as a house keeper for a Spanish family.

Mr Duff worked on the island’s railways, rising to the rank of station master at St German’s and Peel Road stations before he joined the British army in 1940.

Part of the 7th Armoured Division, known as the Desert Rats, his time in the army took him across Europe and northern Africa, including the Battles of El-Alamein in 1942 and the invasion of Italy in 1943.

The Desert Rats were later landed at Normandy on the afternoon of D-Day, and continued through France and into Germany, taking part in the victory parade in Berlin. He was even part of the early stages of the Nuremberg Trials.

After the war, Mr Duff returned to the railways before joining the police. His career in the police saw him rise to the rank of sergeant before his retirement in 1972. He then worked as a driving instructor.

Mr Duff worked tirelessly to ensure those who had fought and died for their country were not forgotten. Taking on the role of guardian of the island’s war memorials, his efforts led to the eventual creation of the War Memorials Committee which now undertakes this vital task.

Mr Duff became known - alongside Albert Phair, Harry Bacon, Bob Quayle and other veterans - for the hours they spent in the island’s schools talking of their experiences of war and encouraging younger generations to ensure they never have to fight in the same way they did.

Ramsey Grammar School history teacher Andrew Wilkinson said he met Mr Duff through the talks which he and other veterans gave to the island’s children, first at St Ninian’s and then latterly at Ramsey Grammar, which last year named its new study centre after him.

He said that Mr Duff ’became a friend through all the years I’ve known him’ and said the value of learning from men like him was ’immeasurable’ both for students and himself.

Mr Wilkinson added: ’In school we can give second hand accounts of what war was like but Hector had been there. He could describe the full horror of the war, I could only ever teach that in theory.

’What was equally as important as his vast knowledge and experience was his strong anti-war message. He would tell the young men and women who he met that they should always seek to avoid conflict.

’None of the talks to the thousands of students over the years was ever the same and I always learned more and more about Hector’s experiences. It was a huge privilege to have known Hector and we always thought he would go on forever.’

Mr Wilkinson told the Manx Independent that Mr Duff would also be able to cater to the age group he was speaking to, ensuring he could both captivate and educate all the students who had the honour of hearing him speak.

In more recent years, Ramsey Grammar School opened the talks so that as many children as possible could hear Mr Duff speak. This included talks given to whole year groups where questions would be selected and presented to Mr Duff in a Question Time style format.

Some of these talks were recorded as part of a student’s media studies work meaning that teachers like Mr Wilkinson will be able to show future generations of the island’s children the lessons Mr Duff gave and hear his experiences first hand.

Other community groups Mr Duff supported also praised his work, including the Probus Club of Douglas which said he was ’the backbone of the club’. Other tributes were paid by both schools across the island, the Beehive Nursery, the Spirit of Normandy Trust and countless others.

Ahead of this week’s Legislative Council sitting President of Tynwald Steve Rodan spoke of a ’great Manxman’ who ’served his country with great distinction in time of war and peace, and will never be forgotten’.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said: ’I was saddened to learn this evening of Hector’s passing. I was only with him a week ago last Sunday for Armed Forces Day.

’Hector served his country and his community with distinction until the very end. A true Manx hero, in every sense, he enriched our island and our lives.’

Chief Constable Gary Roberts said: ’In common with many people I was tremendously proud to call Hector a friend and he was my hero. The people who fought and lived through the Second World War are often called the greatest generation.

’Hector was the greatest Manx person of that greatest generation. We mourn his death, but we give thanks for him, for his courage, his compassion, his kindness and his wonderful humanity.’

Decorated for his war service, including the military medal in 1943 for running towards a German machine gun nest, armed with a Bren gun, and the French Legion d’honneur, the highest French order of merit which he received from former president Francois Hollande in 2014, Mr Duff’s work for his community was also recognised.

In the New Year’s Honours in 2013, he was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of his work with the island’s schoolchildren, in 2014 he was awarded the Tynwald Honour and earlier this year he received an OBE.

Mr Duff’s son Tony told the Manx Independent: ’I want to thank everybody for all the support and well wishes, my ear is like a cauliflower there has been so many people who have called me.’

Tony Duff said his father’s funeral will be a private ceremony at St Peter’s Church in Onchan on Thursday, December 10. An open event at the Villa Marina has been organised for that afternoon for anyone who wishes to celebrate the life of Hector Duff.