Solider and business man; Born November 25, 1923; Died November 28, 2008

JOHN Brown, who has died aged 85, was a decorated war veteran who was among the first of the British forces to hit the Normandy beaches on D-Day.

In the early hours of June 6, 1944, even before the paratroops landed, Brown was crawling ashore a night-time Sword Beach to clear mines and other obstacles. As a member of 9 (The White Horse) Squadron, Royal Engineers, he was not only among the first but also one of the youngest to lead the Allied assault.

It was a highly dangerous mission, and Brown, as a lance-corporal, became one of only a handful of survivors. So severe were the casualties that the unit was immediately disbanded, but so important was their work that the general landings a few hours later were completely successful, and noted for their unexpectedly low casualty rate.

In the following spring, while participating in the crossing of the Rhine, Brown showed such coolness under fire while ferrying troops that he was awarded the Military Medal. Typically, he considered this not his award, but that of his unit. Many medal recipients, it should be noted, pronounce similar sentiments, but Brown really meant it.

Throughout his life, he was taciturn to the point of being cagey about his wartime experiences. This was not just a feature of his generation but a reflection of his own modest personality.

Born in Glasgow, Brown attended Hutchesons' Grammar School before volunteering for the Royal Engineers. After the war, he joined the confectioners Bassett's, and rose to the post of Scotland and Northern Ireland area manager.

In his spare time, Brown became a committed member of the Territorial Army, retiring as a colonel in 1967. He then spent many years devoting his immense energies to the Army Cadet Force. His service as commandant of the Scottish Cadet Force was recognised by the award of an OBE before he retired as a brigadier in 1985.

Brown's commitment did not end there. For a number of years he almost single-handedly organised the Scottish Poppy Appeal on Glasgow's south side, assuming the whole city area's chairmanship in 2002. He was also appointed a Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Renfrewshire.

Naturally, Brown kept in close touch with the Royal Engineers and Normandy Veterans' Associations, where his dry sense of humour never disguised his serious intent. While there are large numbers who mourn his passing, few will mourn more than the ex-service community. Fittingly, a recent concert in Edinburgh by the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland, a fundraiser for Poppyscotland, was dedicated to John's memory. He is survived by Joan, his wife of 57 years.