CDR AD CORKHILL DSC RN Rtd has died at the age of 94 at Queen Alexandra’s hospital in Portsmouth. He had been a much-loved and respected member of the community in Salcombe since moving to the town more than 30 years ago.

David was educated at Conway Merchant Naval College, before joining the Royal Navy at the start of the Second World War. He was commissioned as an observer in the Fleet Air Arm.

In 1940, while flying in a three-man Walrus floatplane off the coast of Holland, he was shot down by a German fighter. He was the only survivor of the encounter, after keeping his seriously damaged plane afloat until they were picked up by a Dutch fishing boat.

He was then posted to ‘Swordfish’ squadron, hunting submarines in the Atlantic.

On retirement from the Royal Navy, he purchased a small business in Salcombe, running a sweet shop in Salcombe, where he spent Saturdays entertaining the children with conjuring tricks.

Later he joined Salcombe Dairy to help expand the wholesale ice cream business.

He was instrumental in the Salcombe branch of the Royal British Legion, organising parades, D-Day commemorations, Remembrance Day, the Poppy Appeal and branch dinners. He was also a standard bearer, attending all military funerals with the standard.

David gave much of his life in service to others, through the Royal British Legion, the HMS Conway Association and the Goldfish Club - a club for Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel shot down at sea.

His manner and bearing gave him away as a naval man, and the Fleet Air Arm tie added a finishing touch. It was appropriate that he died on Armistice Day.

He was known locally as both ‘Mr British Legion’ and ‘Corky’.

Cdr. A.D. Corkhill D.S.C. R.N. Rtd. will be greatly missed by many.

His funeral will be held at Holy Trinity church in Salcombe, on Saturday, November 28 at noon, followed by interment at Bonfire Hill.